The Gentleman Tramp (1975) User Reviews

Gentleman Tramp A Good Summation Of Chaplin's Career

[CitizenCaine · 7/10 · 25 January 2009]

True to his actual career, Charles Chaplin did not wish anyone else to direct him in a project, and The Gentleman Tramp is no exception. Peter Bogdanovich initiated the project, but he failed to get along with Chaplin and most of the completed work could not be salvaged. Richard Patterson took over with the assistance of Walter Matthau, who narrated much of the film, and the documentary was completed. Instead of original, current footage of Chaplin discussing anything, the film is a melange of clips from most of Chaplin's better films. The film skips over much of Chaplin's early beginnings in favor of the film clips and sensationalistic elements of the 1940's and 1950's that punctuated his private life. Along the way are brief home movie clips of Chaplin, his fourth wife Oona, and several of his children at his estate in Switzerland. The film contains the famous Academy Award acceptance appearance by Chaplin, probably one of Oscar's proudest moments among its many other omissions over the years. The film is not all one would have hoped for in an authorized Chaplin biography, but it's still better than nothing. Chaplin wrote the musical score for the film, and Laurence Olivier provides additional narration. *** of 4 stars.

The only authorized film documentary of the film comedian

[Stan16mm · 10/10 · 30 November 1999]

In the final years of his life in Switzerland, Charles Chaplin allowed filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich to come into his home and film him while he spoke of his life, both in front of and behind the camera. He didn't get along well with the young filmmaker and wanted to scrap the whole idea. His filmed footage was neither impressive or flattering to Chaplin. Oona Chaplin, best of friends with Carol Matthau, urged that the project be completed and with the help of husband Walter, they travelled to Vevey, Switzerland and worked out the rough spots to ensure Charlie's cooperation on the project. Richard Patterson took whatever footage could be salvaged (very little) and sprinkled it with sequences from seventeen classic (and copywritten) Chaplin films and turned it into the most loving and often honestly brutal documentary. Containing scenes from Chaplin's work that never appeared before in any documentary, the footage is as sharp and clear as any Chaplin footage as ever been seen before. Footage from films, newsreels, private home movies, cartoon parodies and even his triumphant return to the states in 1972 at the Academy Awards are included. Narrated by Walter Matthau, with additional comments from Laurence Oliver, Jack Lemmon, Len Weinrib, Alan Oppenheimer and Richard Dawson, this loving tribute concludes with a final walk down the road as we see Chaplin, now using his cane as a real aid and his wife Oona walk down a grassy path. His final filmed trip down the road gives us comfort as he is not alone. Only 25 16mm prints were made of this beautiful film but, happily, it is on video from MPI. Look for it because it is a must!