Rating: 
Summary: For Chaplin fans, but not for everyone else
Review: Of all Chaplin's movies, this one is probably the most difficult to review. Prior to Limelight (1952), Chaplin's movies (after achieving artistic maturity) were either flawless or masterpieces with a few flaws that detract from the overall impact only in relatively minor ways. After Limelight, Chaplin only completed two films (not counting his compilation The Chaplin Revue), one of which (A King in New York) has many fine moments but doesn't have nearly the impact that his earlier movies do, the other (A Countess from Hong Kong) I have not seen but have heard is uninspired throughout. With Limelight, we have Chaplin in transition, an overall concept which is very promising, but a stagey execution which, much as I would like to say otherwise, seriously detracts from the impact the concept has.
The overall idea is very fine. Chaplin is Calvero, an aging clown long past his prime, who no longer is able to make audiences laugh. He saves a young girl, Terry, from suicide, and restoring her back to health (she cannot walk) gives him a new lease on life. Eventually, he regains his popularity, and a revitalized Terry says she loves him and wants to marry him; he realizes that the offer only comes from gratitude and kindness, not from love, and also that his life is drawing to a close, his time has come. In one last triumphant act, Calvero has the audience howling in laughter when he has a heart attack; he steps out of the limelight in favor of Terry and dies watching her. The central theme in this movie, the futility of prolonging life after its natural conclusion, obviously has the potential for a great masterpiece, but while Chaplin obviously recognizes this and brings out every stage in the drama with great pathos, he overdoes it. His frequent philosophical ramblings, while fascinating, come off as unrealistic, and in fact Calvero generally has the air of someone who could not possibly have existed, a stage character rather than a real human being. Some people find this overlong, but I am inclined to put this down to the excessively short attention span most movie audiences have; the movie is longer than most Chaplin movies (in fact, it might be the longest, I haven't timed them), but it is always interesting, and every incident is important to the unfolding of the drama. Also, don't expect too many laughs: this is almost straight drama, with the only comedy being done on stage by Calvero (and Keaton's character), and even that is tinged with sadness, as Chaplin's age for the first time in his movies makes its presence felt.
I have brought up the final scene with Chaplin and Keaton; this was the only time the two great comics of the silent era worked together, and it has provoked controversy that still has not died down, namely, the rumor that Chaplin cut out most of Keaton's best bits so that Chaplin would dominate the scene. Allow me to quote something which, I hope, will put an end to the rumors, at least here at amazon.com. This quote is from Jeffrey Vance's superb biography of Chaplin (highly recommended), who in turn quotes Jerry Epstein: "People have written over the years that Charlie cut out the best stuff of Buster Keaton. That's completely untrue, and I should know as I was with Charlie every day in the editing of the picture. He shot enough for ten films from just that sequence. He cut out some of Keaton's stuff but he also cut some of his own best gags. Narrative meant more than anything else, no matter how good any one gag was. He would never sacrifice anyone's performance."
In short, I recommend this for Chaplin fans who are familiar with his best work, but I don't think this should be anyone's introduction to Chaplin.
Rating: 
Summary: Chaplin's Flaws and Virtues
Review: "Limelight" has not aged well. It's way overlong and suffers from Charlie Chaplin's phony philosophizing. However, the pantomime routines are excellent and the film is worth seeing for its brilliant eight-minute teaming of Chaplin and Buster Keaton. In fact, Chaplin could have taken a few pointers from Keaton, who speaks relatively little and performs without a hint of egomania. Chaplin may have cut some of Keaton's gags, yet the Great Stone Face steals the scene with his stoic underplaying. Parts of "Limelight" are quite affecting, but Chaplin undercuts his admirable efforts with his indulgent monologues on life, death and failure. His screenplay could have used another rewrite or, even better, a "BS detector." Still, for all its flaws, "Limelight" showcases Chaplin's pantomimic gifts in memorable fashion. In retrospect, it should have been his last film.
Rating:
Summary: Chaplin's Flaws and Virtues
Review: "Limelight" has not aged well. It's way overlong and suffers from Charlie Chaplin's phony philosophizing. However, the pantomime routines are excellent and the film is worth seeing for its brilliant eight-minute teaming of Chaplin and Buster Keaton. In fact, Chaplin could have taken a few pointers from Keaton, who speaks relatively little and performs without a hint of egomania. Chaplin may have cut some of Keaton's gags, yet the Great Stone Face steals the scene with his stoic underplaying. Parts of "Limelight" are quite affecting, but Chaplin undercuts his admirable efforts with his indulgent monologues on life, death and failure. His screenplay could have used another rewrite or, even better, a "BS detector." Still, for all its flaws, "Limelight" showcases Chaplin's pantomimic gifts in memorable fashion. In retrospect, it should have been his last film.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, if Slightly Corny Chaplin Film
Review: "Limelight," one of two Charlie Chaplin dramas (after 1923's "A Woman of Paris") is a surprisingly good movie. The story, about the bittersweet relationship between an aging vaudeville comedian and a young ballerina, is anything but subtle, but it is still sweet and entertaining, even touching at times. And "Limelight" is notable also for featuring the only on-screen pairing of Chaplin and Buster Keaton (alas, for a short time only).
This DVD is probably the best of the first wave of the Chaplin collection (the others being "The Gold Rush," "Modern Times," and "The Great Dictator"). The movie is on the first disc, and it looks amazing. It is very sharp and clear, with practically no scratches. The sound, as far as I noticed, was perfectly fine.
The extra features, located on the second disc, are pretty much a completist's dream. Like other films in the collection, there is a good introduction by Chaplin biographer David Robinson, as well as a great "Chaplin Today" documentary (featuring interviews with, among others, director Bernardo Bertolucci). The next feature a fan should go to is a flea circus scene from Chaplin's unfinished 1918 comedy "The Professor." It is an amusing scene, and makes one wonder what it would have been like if the film were ever completed. A deleted scene, in which Calvero meets an armless friend, is pretty good and well worth watching. Some of Chaplin's home movies can be viewed; they are interesting to see, if not worth repeated viewings. As well, you can listen to Chaplin's complete, uncut musical score.
Extras are rounded out with a huge photo gallery, a poster gallery, some trailers, and ads (excuse me, "scenes") from other Chaplin films.
Rating:
Summary: The Clown and The Ballerina...
Review: ...I like tug at your heart melodramas.This story is like an opera without the mezzo soprano voice. A down and out, alcoholic clown takes in a "paralyzed" ballet dancer and inspires her to greatness, while he falls deeper and deeper into failure. A shadow of his former self, Calvero, the great clown performer, is reduced to street performances and passing the hat for money. What will definitely stir the movie viewer is that even in the age difference, the drinking binges, and the apparent class differences, the ballerina, Thereza, wants to marry Calvero and that she "would do anything" to make the clown happy. What devotion! You will love Chaplin's flea circus bit and his over the top violin performance with Keaton. Note: although the film was made in the 50's, it has a feel to it like it was done earlier. The movie viewer will enjoy it, nonetheless.
Rating: 
Summary: Chaplin revised
Review: A pretentious, dull and tedious movie about a vaudeville clown saving a ballerina from suicide. Calvero(Chaplin) goes on and on with self indulgent monoloughes and performs on stage comedy for two year olds. He even took the opportunity to reduce the great Buster Keaton to a studio intern. Heartbreaking to witness. I regret I saw it...
Rating:
Summary: Chaplin revised
Review: A pretentious, dull and tedious movie about a vaudeville clown saving a ballerina from suicide. Calvero(Chaplin) goes on and on with self indulgent monoloughes and performs on-stage comedy for two year olds.
He even took the opportunity to reduce the great Buster Keaton to a studio intern. Heartbreaking to witness.
I regret I saw it...
Rating:
Summary: Limelight - a clown's perspective
Review: A truly wonderful film; it swiftly became one of my favorites. In a nutshell, it's the story of a once-great stage comedian (Calvero, a formerly great tramp clown, played by Charlie Chaplin), who's been failing in his career, and has become an alcholic, who saves the life of a despondent ballerina (played by Claire Bloom) from a suicide attempt. The film is a juxtaposition of these two personalities, one who rallies & goes onward, the other who falls further. It contains some of Chaplin's funniest & finest moments, include a nice pantomime of a flea circus, and a duet towards the end of the film with Buster Keaton. Interestingly, neither comic legend played their most famous characters; Chaplin wasn't the tramp, but rather another tramp comedian, a manic violinist. Keaton wasn't his well-known stone face, but rather a near-sighted pianist. Some have suggested that Chaplin jealously cut Keaton's time on screen, but as Jerry Epstein (Chaplin's assistant on this film, and the other person besides Chaplin in the editing room) noted, Chaplin cut far more of his own moments from the scene. When asked why, Chaplin replied to the effect, that no matter how funny something was, if it didn't move the scene forward, it had to go. Something that modern clowns (and film makers) would do well to take to heart. A bittersweet film, that runs perhaps slightly longer than it should, but I frankly think it's "just right." I recommend it very highly, either for fellow clowns to learn from, or for fellow human beings to enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Touching!
Review: A very touching drama about a ballerina who falls in love with an agingmusic hall performer. Not Chaplin's best, but pretty close!
Rating: 
Summary: Embarassingly painful to watch
Review: Chaplin was at his worst here. He styled himself a philosopher in this movie and spends way too much time spouting his half-baked thoughts about everything you can imagine. Chaplin may have thought of himself as a wise old sage but his self-written dialogue makes him sound more like an ignorant old fogey who doesn't know when to shut up. He passes off the tritest of observations as ageless wisdom and the audience wonders if it is a joke. Horrible movie but Keaton is a joy to watch.
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