The Charlie Chaplin Festival

Not a new film but four of Chaplin's Mutual shorts joined together with sound added. It was released on 1 April 1941. The four are from 1917: The Adventurer, The Cure, Easy Street and The Immigrant. All belong to his most mature short period, and The Immigrant is the one still most cited; the moment the arriving passengers catch sight of the Statue of Liberty and are promptly roped together and herded into line is one of Chaplin's plainest political jokes. Music and sound effects were added afterwards to films shot silent. This was common practice in the 1940s: old shorts resold to a sound-era audience. Who it is for: viewers who know the features and want to see the short period in one sitting. Who it is not for: anyone who wants the originals. The added sound and music work against Chaplin's own sense of timing; the shorts hold up better watched separately and silent.