JANUARY 20-FEBRUARY 11

NEW 35mm PRINTS! 
ALL AGES WELCOME!

Almost a century after he first began making movies, Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) remains the most famous, beloved and instantly recognizable figure in the history of the cinema. Pacific Cinémathèque is pleased to present a major retrospective of the feature films and many of the favourite shorts of this comic genius, all showcasing Chaplin’s celebrated mix of slapstick, sentiment and social critique — and all screening in brand-new 35mm prints struck from recent French restorations. Made possible by Janus Films (New York) in cooperation with MK2 (France) and the Chaplin Estate, this retrospective allows these timeless classics to be seen the way they were meant to be seen, the way they were seen when they first began enthralling and delighting audiences so many years ago: in pristine condition, on the big screen, in the company of an audience. Included is every Chaplin feature film from 1921’s The Kid to 1957’s A King in New York, as well as all of the two-, three-, and four-reelers he made for First National between 1918 and 1922, the work with which Chaplin perfected his skills as a narrative director and took the decisive steps towards feature-length comedy filmmaking. All silent films in the program include synchronized musical soundtracks.

“CHAPLIN IS ARGUABLY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST PRODUCED BY THE CINEMA, certainly its most extraordinary performer, and probably still its most universal icon.” ANDREW SARRIS

“THE FINEST PANTOMIME, THE DEEPEST EMOTION, THE RICHEST AND MOST POIGNANT POETRY WERE IN CHAPLIN’S WORK . . . He was the first man to give the silent language a soul.” JAMES AGEE

“ELVIS, THE BEATLES, PRINCESS DI ... FORGET IT. In 1913, Charles Spencer Chaplin was a relatively obscure English comedian. In 1919 — before the Internet, before TV, before radio — he was the most famous man in the world . . . The darling of writers, philosophers, and scientists, he was for many years the only comedian talked about by both mass audiences and intellectuals.” FILM FORUM, NEW YORK

“In recent years Chaplin’s achievement has sometimes been underestimated by critics without historical perspective . . . his popularity contributed much to hollywood’s prosperity and rise to world-wide pre-eminence . . . The sophisticated intelligence and skills he brought to slapstick comedy forced intellectuals to recognise that art could reside in a wholly popular entertainment . . . Even today his Tramp remains the most universally recognized fictional representation of humankind — an icon both of comedy and the movies themselves." DAVID ROBINSON

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The films in this retrospective are released by Janus Films (New York), with the exception of Monsieur Verdoux, which is released by The Film Desk (New York). Thanks to Sarah Finklea and Brian Belovarac, Janus Films; and Jake Perlin, The Film Desk.