Limelight

Rating:
Summary: Over-indulgence
Review: How many times has this film been reviewed as a personal "over-indulgence" of Chaplin? How might one even begin to say that a man, with so much to offer to humanity, could EVER be over-indulgent? It is an insult not only to Chaplin but to the sensitivity and intellect of the one saying it. LIMELIGHT is a haunting and memorable film which displays the gracefulness of one man who had the courage to pass the "creative torch" to another. This "torch" most represents LIFE. And this is the message of LIMELIGHT.

Rating:
Summary: It's a must.
Review: I am a Chaplin fan but I must recognize that it was not until I saw Limelight a couple of years ago for the first time in my life, that I discovered the real genious in Chaplin. This is a film the creates a bridge among the generations: the older, represented by Calvero (Chaplin) and the younger represented by Bloom. What saves her is the same thing that saves Calvero. The music is also remarkable. Long ago I first listened to a song called "Candilejas" sung by brazilean singer Roberto Carlos and until I saw Limelight I didn't know this was a Spanish version for the main title theme of the film that was awarded an Oscar in 1972. In my view, and I've watched many many films, this is the best film ever made, well ahead of Citizen Kane.

Rating:
Summary: Chaplin Should Have Remained Silent
Review: I couldn't disagree with the Lewiston, Idaho, reviewer more when it comes to Charles Chaplin's "Limelight." Chaplin's "philosophy of life" is enough to make you cringe. It's a shame, really, because it could have been a truly great film. Chaplin was better off keeping his mouth shut and relying on his pantomimic brilliance, which dominate "Limelight's" best moments. The Chaplin-Keaton performance remains the film's highlight. A silent Chaplin far outweighs the talky, pretentious bore that he had become in his final films.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Movie of All Time.....No Other Can Compare
Review: I love Chaplin, and most especially I love this movie. Chaplin viewed life mostly as either a comedy, (laughable - though not necessarily funny) or tragic....and this movie is a complex yet tender tale of just that. He is soulful and kind in the character he plays.....and after reading his autobiography and studying him as best I could over the years, this movie seems to come from out of his experiences, either growing up and watching the death of vaudeville....and the acts that flowed from it...and people, generally. Hit wit and wisdom is brilliant and his on-screen personality with Bloom as Thereza is magnificent. I fell in love with him myself. His talent was beyond belief; he wrote the story and the music....and played the music....and with clever quips such as "But isn't it too late for music? Not if we play a nocturne!".... I've watched this movie again and again many times owing to its hypnotic qualities, yet every time I watch it I see things that stand out to me. Of course the ending is sad and tragic.....and I think it ended entirely too soon.....it could have gone on and on.... A beautiful story from a beautiful man of character and depth. His passing was a huge loss, though inevitable.

When he made this film he was about 64 years old....yet bouncy and buoyant...very charismatic, sweet and charming. Also he brings a sophistication to the screen that is one of the highlights of the older movies and actors originating from the UK.

Limelight is on my shelf...though well worn from playing it over and over. I highly recommend it be on yours.

Rating:
Summary: Not a Comedy.....
Review: I really do like this movie. It's not intended to be funny or comedic, it's not a 'tramp' film. Instead, it is the musings of an old man, who has reflected on his life, realized how great he was once, how poorly he has become, and yet never gives up hope. This is a pretty serious dramatic film, actually, which seems to me why people didn't accept it too well: they were expecting something silly. The film does have its sillier moments, of course, especially with Buster Keaton, and a bit of clowning and dialouge, such as the flea circus bit.
I find that Chaplin had an incredible speaking voice, and was very well capable of playing a dramatic role. Considering how his life went, as the movie seems to follow pretty closely, it makes sense. The relationship between the Chaplin and the ballerina is fascinating, how they keep each other from death, how they give each other hope. It is a great movie, and I wish there were more as good.

Rating:
Summary: A very early role for Claire Bloom and wonderful Chaplin
Review: I was a movie usher at the Astor Theatre in NYC in 1951 and stood through 19 showings of "Limelight". I loved every moment of it. When I saw it again years later, the same emotions erupted. Buster Keaton's piece alone is worth the price!

Rating:
Summary: I was. . .
Review: Is how Chaplin's character answers Terry (Claire Bloom) when she incredulously asks " You are the great Calvero? "

This is the story of passing the limelight from old to young. In this case a world weary has-been clown beaten down by life (" I think I'm dying, but then I'm not sure, I've died so many times before ") and a young ballerina whom he rescues from committing suicide (" What's your hurry? "). She gets thrown out of her apartment for the attempt and ends up convalescing in the flat above, where her neighbor, the once great Calvero spends his days in drink.

It's a wonderfully told tale, though it must be admitted it's as sentimental as the Sermon on the Mount and as corny as a Chopin nocturne. Furthermore Chaplin indulges himself with dialogue that matches the ending speech of the barber in The Great Dictator.

I hope you can forgive him these faults and enjoy the movie. This one's a love letter to all artists by the man Lawrence Olivier once called the greatest actor of the twentieth century. Chaplin's last will and testament.

Rating:
Summary: As the Years Passed By....
Review: l saw this movie when it first came out and was totally entranced. l laughed, l cried, l wondered, l was in awe. And l saw it at least 3 more times over the course of the same year (either 1952 or 1953). lt became one of my most favorite films.

And the years went by, and lo! in the mid-'80's it was scheduled to appear uninterrupted on one of the Cable channels and l joyfully told friends not to miss it because of its greatness and l had a small party, a gathering of selected friends to watch the movie with me. l was a veritable Press Agent for the film in my neighborhood.

And the film started...and the friends at my house left around 3/4 of the way through the movie, the others asked me (the next day +) if l was kidding them....in summary, the movie just didn't stand up to today's standards. The sets were cheesy, the acting often overdone, the emoting embarrassing and l and all of my friends were disappointed big-time...yet another "old-time" movie that didn't stand up to the test of time.

But it's Chaplin and should be at least rented and seen. l myself just can't add it to my DVD collection.

Rating:
Summary: "I never thought we'd come to this"
Review: Lets face it, Limelight is mostly mush and sentiment. This is not a comedy. The reason for viewing this is the Charlie and Buster scene near the end. It's pretty good. Just good enough to make us wonder, what if they had teamed together for an entire picture? If they did, even at their advanced ages, this would probably be viewed as a absoulute classic, instead of a novelty.

Rating:
Summary: Chaplin's terrific artistic statement
Review: Limelight is a wonderfully intelligent film that mixes hilarious comedy with sincere tragedy in its look into the life of the artist and performer who is dependent on his or her make-or-break audience. This film started my interest for Charlie Chaplin and I've been a fan of the socially-engaged genius since.