Made in 1931 shortly after the introduction of the talkies, Charlie Chaplin's City Lights is nonetheless near-silent. Chaplin was afraid that, should his universally known and beloved Tramp speak onscreen, he would be severely limited and compromised as a character. And so, City Lights is billed as "pantomime", a piece of cinema harking back to the manners and methods of an already defunct era. Chaplin fell out of fashion towards the end of the 20th century as a new wave of comedians (Rowan Atkinson for one) castigated him for what they saw as his excessive, maudlin sentimentality. Certainly, City Lights--which sees Chaplin's Tramp befriended by a blind flower girl who mistakes him for a rich benefactor--is hokum indeed. Accepting this, however, what makes the film so marvellous is the deceptive skill and artistry of Chaplin the filmmaker, the immaculate timing and acrobatic grace of his seemingly slapstick comedy, in particular a justly famous boxing sequence. Chaplin's sparing use of sound is inventive also: the wordless waffle of public speakers in the opening scene and another in which the tramp swallows a whistle. Moreover, the conclusion, in which the dishevelled Tramp encounters again the flower girl, her eyesight restored is--sentimentality notwithstanding--one of the most moving and superbly executed scenes in cinema history, not least for its economy and restraint. On the DVD: City Lights contains a generous package of extras on this two-disc set, including an introduction by David Robinson, in which he relates how poorly Chaplin and his leading lady Virginia Cherrill got on, an extended documentary/interview with Peter Lord (partner in animation to Nick Parks), who sings the praises of Chaplin's screen art, and a deleted scene, an immaculate piece of business involving a grate and a stick. There's a bonus in the form of an excerpt from 1915's The Champion, in which Chaplin prefigures the boxing scene from City Lights. Meanwhile, the "documents" section includes a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage, including a test screening for alternative actress Georgia Hale, rehearsal shots, chaotic scenes of Chaplin being mobbed in Vienna, a meeting with Winston Churchill and 1918 footage of Chaplin horsing around with famous boxers of the day including Benny Leonard. It also contains trailers, photo gallery and subtitles. On the first disc, the film's transfer to DVD is splendid. --David Stubbs
USED DVD disc has light scratches shipped same working day if ordered before 3.30pm from our Scarborough high street store
Juliette Binoche stars in this French drama based on the novel by Camille Laurens. Co-written and directed by Safy Nebbou, the film follows divorced middle-aged academic Claire Millaud (Binoche) as she begins an online relationship with 20-something Alex Chelly (Francois Civil), who falls in love with Claire's online alter ego, 25-year-old Clara Antunes, and insists that they meet in person. Meanwhile, Claire's psychoanalyst Dr Catherine Bormans (Nicole Garcia) attempts to uncover the truth behind her relationship with Alex.
Farewell to the Five-O Bomb threats. Kidnappings. Assassinations. And yes, even pirates. The final cases of HPD's finest are among the hottest the islands have ever seen. In Hawaii Five-0 Season 10, Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin), and Detective Sgt. Danno Williams (Scott Caan) go up against all-new adversaries and familiar foes, including the final showdown with the Yakuza for Hawaii's soul. They'll need all the help they can get including guest appearances from Magnum P.I.'s Thomas Magnum (Jay Hernandez) and Higgins (Perdita Weeks). Witness the epic conclusion to Steve and Danno's saga from the edge of your seat in Hawaii Five-0 Season 10's thrilling 22 episodes in this 5-disc collection. Special features: Desperate Measures (Magnum P.I. Crossover Episode) Shorelines: Aloha Refl ections on Five-0: An Interview with Alex O'Loughlin Gag Reel Deleted/Extended Scenes On Select Episodes
Book 'Em, Danno. Everyone comes to the islands to get away but criminals can't get away from the HPD's finest. In Hawaii Five-0: The Complete Series, Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin), and Detective Sgt. Danno Williams (Scott Caan) take on 10 seasons of cases both local and international with their elite task force, including hand-selected pros like Lieutenant Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), HPD rookie Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park), and SWAT Commander Lou Grover(Chi McBride). From terror threats to an epic, years long battle with the Yakuza, witness every thrilling stand-off in this 240 episode collection and a new bonus disc commemorating all 10 seasons! Over 20 hours of special features! Deleted and Extended Scenes Gag Reels Alternate Endings Music Videos Behind the Scenes Featurettes Launch Promos And More! Plus audio commentaries on select episodes and an all-new bonus disc featuring the cast and crew looking back on the show!
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