City Lights (1931) (Criterion Collection)

The Criterion Collection

The most cherished film by CHARLIE CHAPLIN (Modern Times) is also his ultimate Little Tramp chronicle. The writer-director-star achieved new levels of grace, in both physical comedy and dramatic poignancy, with this silent tale of a lovable vagrant falling for a young blind woman who sells flowers on the street (a magical VIRGINIA CHERRILL) and mistakes him for a millionaire.Though this Depression-era smash was made after the advent of sound, Chaplin remained steadfast in his love for the expressive beauty of the pre-talkie form. The result was the epitome of his art and the crowning achievement of silent comedy.Digital restoration from a 4K film transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrackNew audio commentary by Charlie Chaplin biographer Jeffrey VanceChaplin Today: City Lights, a 2003 documentary on the film's production, featuring Aardman Animations cofounder Peter LordChaplin Studios: Creative Freedom by Design, a new interview program featuring visual effects expert Craig BarronArchival footage from the production of City Lights, including film from the set, with audio commentary by Chaplin historian Hooman Mehran; a costume test; a rehearsal; and a complete scene not used in the filmExcerpt from Chaplin's short film The Champion (1915), along with footage of the director with boxing stars at Chaplin Studios in 1918TrailersPLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Gary Giddins and a 1966 interview with Chaplin