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Chaplin’s Goliath
(1996)

Charles Chaplin’s greatest foil was Scottish-born actor Eric Campbell. Capable of the right level of intimidation and ferocity on cue, Campbell is still beloved by audiences who cherish Chaplin’s short Mutual comedy films. Unfortunately, Eric Campbell died an untimely death after Chaplin completed his Mutual contract.

This documentary places a long-overdue spotlight on the silent cinema’s greatest comedic heavy.

— Carl Bennett

Flicker Alley
2014 Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition

Chaplin’s Mutual Comedies 1916-1917 (1916-2013), black & white, 400 minutes total, not rated, including Chaplin’s Goliath (1996), color and black & white, 52 minutes, not rated.

Flicker Alley, FA0034,
UPC 0-17311-67859-2, ISBN 1-893967-859.
Two single-sided, dual-layered, Region A Blu-ray Disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) 24 fps progressive scan image encoded in SDR AVC format at ? Mbps average video bit rate; Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Mbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; and three single-sided, dual-layered, Region 1 NTSC DVD disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; five-disc BD steelbook; $59.99.
Release date: 19 August 2014.
Country of origin: USA

Ratings (1-10): video: 7 / audio: 7 / additional content: 9 / overall: 8.

This Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition’s supplemental material includes the documentary Chaplin’s Goliath (1996) on Chaplin star heavy Eric Campbell, a 28-page booklet, and the documentary The Birth of the Tramp (2013).

The collection is issued in limited-edition steelbook packaging, which we feel must be handled gingerly to avoid damaging its discs and the case itself.

This Region A Blu-ray Disc / Region 1 NTSC DVD edition is available directly from . . .

Film Preservation Associates
2003 DVD edition

Chaplin’s Goliath (1996), color and black & white, 52 minutes, not rated.

Film Preservation Associates, distributed by Image Entertainment, ID0749DSDVD, UPC 0-14381-07492-5.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 1 NTSC DVD disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $19.99.
Release date: 8 July 2003.
Country of origin: USA

We have not viewed this DVD edition. However, the documentary features Chaplin outtakes and screen tests that have rarely been seen.

The disc is likely to be of high quality and a pleasant surprise to everyone.

This Region 1 NTSC DVD edition has been discontinued
and is . . .

Film Preservation Associates
2006 DVD edition

The Chaplin Mutual Comedies (1916-1917), black & white, 301 minutes total, not rated, including Chaplin’s Goliath (1996), color and black & white, 52 minutes, not rated.

Film Preservation Associates, distributed by Image Entertainment, ID2477DSDVD, UPC 0-14381-24772-5.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD disc (four DVDs in the set); 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; plastic trays in cardboard wrapper box; $59.99.
Release date: 11 July 2006.
Country of origin: USA

Ratings (1-10): video: 7 / audio: 7 / additional content: 8 / overall: 7.