Rating: 
Summary: First feature comedy
Review: The reviews on this page seem to be referring to two or three different editions of "Tillie's Punctured Romance." So let me start by saying that I'm reviewing the Image DVD version (which also contains the one-reeler "Mabel's Married Life" as a bonus feature) and not the Chaplin marathon which seems to be the recipient of the bad reviews here."Tillie's Punctured Romance" is an important film for a couple of reasons. It was the very first feature length comedy, providing film comedy an alternative to one- and two-reel shorts. It was also the last film with Charles Chaplin as merely an actor; he began directing all of his films after this. In addition to its importance, "Tillie's Punctured Romance" is still enjoyable to watch. The print on this DVD is a little rough in places, a few times switching from what appears to be a nice 35mm print to a seemingly worn out 16mm print and then back again within the same scene. But overall, this is a quality presentation of the film when you consider the fact that it was made in 1914.
Rating:
Summary: First feature comedy
Review: The reviews on this page seem to be referring to two or three different editions of "Tillie's Punctured Romance." So let me start by saying that I'm reviewing the Image DVD version (which also contains the one-reeler "Mabel's Married Life" as a bonus feature) and not the Chaplin marathon which seems to be the recipient of the bad reviews here. "Tillie's Punctured Romance" is an important film for a couple of reasons. It was the very first feature length comedy, providing film comedy an alternative to one- and two-reel shorts. It was also the last film with Charles Chaplin as merely an actor; he began directing all of his films after this. In addition to its importance, "Tillie's Punctured Romance" is still enjoyable to watch. The print on this DVD is a little rough in places, a few times switching from what appears to be a nice 35mm print to a seemingly worn out 16mm print and then back again within the same scene. But overall, this is a quality presentation of the film when you consider the fact that it was made in 1914.
Rating: 
Summary: Historically---but not comically---significant Chaplin
Review: This 1914 film is considered the first feature-lenth comedy ever made and, as such, is worth viewing just for that. The film on its merits, however, is less interesting. Sure, this is slapstick, but I personally found the Tillie character to be quite ridiculous; ridiulous, moreover, without being particularly amusing. She's made up to look like---and seemingly acts like---a guy in drag pledging a fraternity. Marie Dressler, then 45 years-old, playing such a supposedly youthful character as "Tillie", to boot, is less comical than it is distracting. If you are going to take the time to see this film, in other words, you ought be doing so simply to see a historically significant film. So, no, it's not a film you'll most likely want to own and watch again and again, unless you're simply enamored by anything and everything Chaplin has done. If you haven't seen anything by Chaplin don't start here! And if you are a discerning Chaplin fan you'd be better served (if you care to be amused) by sampling some of his much greater efforts. For the curious, I offer a brief synopsis of Tillie's Punctured Romance: "What's this he's got---one of Ringling's elephants?" So remarks Mabel Normand's character (so to speak, in this silent film) as she spies Chaplin's 'City Guy' arm in arm with "Built like a battleship" Tillie. Tillie has "got a bankroll as thick as herself", Chaplin's character later explains to Normand, his old partner in crime. Then once successful in lifting said cash from Tillie, Chaplin flees with Normand. Upon hearing of Tillie's apparent inheritance of 3 million dollars soon after, however, he returns to her and begs Tillie to marry him ASAP. They later whoop it up with many quests (with Normand working as hired help) at a celebratory party at Tillies's "new" home, until her uncle---thought dead---returns to claim it back, throwing them out into the street as he does so. A keystone-cops-like chase ensues all through town and seaside along a boardwalk and then ends with Normand and (a soaking wet) Tillie agreeing that Chaplin's favor is hardly worth pursuing anyway. Curtain. Cheers!
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, for what it's worth
Review: This appears to be the same version that appeared frequently on early cable channels in the early 1980s. The narrator actually helps somewhat, as some of what goes on is a bit hard to follow. Overall, it's an old-timey tale from 1914 where the city slicker (Charlie Chaplin) and his assistant (a rather appealing Mabel Normand)bamboozles the country gal (Marie Dressler). It has its moments. When Charlie and Mabel bilk the country gal out of her bucks, they go to a theater and are horrified to watch a story of a couople of city slickers who rob a country bumpkin. Ridden with guilt, they exit the theater as the story hits way too close to home. Marie Dressler wreaking havoc when she catches Charlie & Mabel making love is also quite humorous. This was the first knwon feature comedy film, and was a good beginning for the genre. By the way, the little boy who Charlie Chaplin slaps was little Milton Berle, who later recalled that Chaplin really hurt him in this scene.
Rating: 
Summary: No talking during the movie - PLEASE!
Review: This is a LaserLight product, and they don't care. They don't care about silent movies, or they wouldn't have put out three short comedies that run too fast. Correcting the film speed is one of the most basic remastering processes, but they couldn't be bothered. The main feature is an old (1950's graphics) repackaging effort, with the same ham-fisted and intrusive sound effects as used in the short comedies. On top of that there is a (gasp of horror)...
a NARRATOR! He is from the 1950's,too. His endless pointing out of every action in the movie is an insult to my intelligence.
The LaserLight people obviously couldn't be bothered to remaster this film or record a new sound track. The LaserLight people also don't care about their customers. On the back cover of the DVD box they say this, "Digitally mastered from the best available sources, with a newly recorded music score for the highest quality possible". Fortunately, higher quality versions of these works are not only possible, but they already exist - so you don't need to buy this sloth-ridden turkey (now there's an image!).
Rating:
Summary: No talking during the movie - PLEASE!
Review: This is a LaserLight product, and they don't care. They don't care about silent movies, or they wouldn't have put out three short comedies that run too fast. Correcting the film speed is one of the most basic remastering processes, but they couldn't be bothered. The main feature is an old (1950's graphics) repackaging effort, with the same ham-fisted and intrusive sound effects as used in the short comedies. On top of that there is a (gasp of horror)...
a NARRATOR! He is from the 1950's,too. His endless pointing out of every action in the movie is an insult to my intelligence.
The LaserLight people obviously couldn't be bothered to remaster this film or record a new sound track. The LaserLight people also don't care about their customers. On the back cover of the DVD box they say this, "Digitally mastered from the best available sources, with a newly recorded music score for the highest quality possible". Fortunately, higher quality versions of these works are not only possible, but they already exist - so you don't need to buy this sloth-ridden turkey (now there's an image!).
Rating: 
Summary: Must have
Review: This is one the best I have seen yet.Great organ music makes it a pleasure to watch,along with original intertitles.I highly recommended this DVD for your collection.
Rating:
Summary: A historical curiosity, more Sennett's film than Chaplin's
Review: What makes this film notable is not the presence of Charlie Chaplin, who is essentially out of character playing the heartless sharper instead of the loveable Tramp, but that it was the product of Max Sennet's desire to produce the first feature-length comedy in film history. Sennett had signed the famous stage comedienne Marie Dressler for a film version of her big success, "Tillie's Nightmare." A massive legal entanglement resulted and the film was sold to Arco for $100,000 and released as "Tillie's Punctured Romance" in a whole bunch of different lengths with different soundtracks. Essentially this is a burlesque of a burlesque in which the city slicker (Chaplin) leads the pretty country heiress (Dressler) astray. Sennett throws every trick he knows into directing this 1914 film and anyone familiar with the work of Chaplin or Dressler after this point will be dismayed with their performances here. Chaplin is extremely deadpan and Dressler is overly mannered (with way too much makeup on). Fortunately even his facial hair is different enough for us to convince ourselves this is not really Charlie. "Tillie's Punctured Romance" is a historical curiosity, necessary for your Chaplin collection out of a sense of completeness rather than for great comic enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: A decent DVD at a decent Price
Review: [...] It is a pretty decent collection. The sound quality leaves something to be desired and video quality is as to be expected. Nothing less, nothing more. Overall, not too bad. I recommend it!!
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