Film Score Monthly
FSM HOME MESSAGE BOARD FSM CDs FSM ONLINE RESOURCES FUN STUFF ABOUT US  SEARCH FSM   
Search Terms: 
Search Within:   search tips 
You must log in or register to post.
  Go to page:    
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 12:17 PM   
 By:   Montana Dave   (Member)

Just released on Blu ray from Criterion, I have it in my Netflix queue and I have a 'short wait' for it's availability to rent. I've never seen the film, but I know it has a young Claire Bloom in it, so I'm curious about it. I'm aware that in 1972, it won the Best Score Oscar over some fairly hefty rivals that year. through some 'loophole' in The Academy's rules on eligibility regarding the music category, and that 'loophole' has long since been closed. Anyone here seen this 1953 (?) film or heard it's music?

 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 12:31 PM   
 By:   Thomas   (Member)

I have the DVD that was released by Warner Bros as part of the excellent 'Chaplin Collection' some 10 or so years ago. I've always liked it, it's a long film by Chaplin's standards (over 2 hours) and basically a homage to the music hall days and the passing to a new generation. Sombre at times, yet also funny and touching. What Chaplin did well. Famously Buster Keaton appears also.If I remember correctly, the isolated score is on that DVD. Chaplin's only actual 'competitive' Oscar win too.

 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 2:18 PM   
 By:   Juanki   (Member)

any company may like to release it? I certainly would buy it.

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 4:14 PM   
 By:   hyperdanny   (Member)

the movie is a masterpiece that I find almost physically difficuly to watch..the sense of sadness about the end of the life of an old semi-forgotten clown just reduces me to tears.

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 4:46 PM   
 By:   Morricone   (Member)

Just released on Blu ray from Criterion, I have it in my Netflix queue and I have a 'short wait' for it's availability to rent. I've never seen the film, but I know it has a young Claire Bloom in it, so I'm curious about it. I'm aware that in 1972, it won the Best Score Oscar over some fairly hefty rivals that year. through some 'loophole' in The Academy's rules on eligibility regarding the music category, and that 'loophole' has long since been closed. Anyone here seen this 1953 (?) film or heard it's music?

Saw it many years ago and it is very unique in his career and certainly the music ranks as one of his most effective scores. As to the loophole I don't think of it as one. LIMELIGHT came out during the McCarthy era and pretty much was responsible for Chaplin being exiled from the US. The controversy literally shut down the film's release and it was never shown in Los Angeles. It premiered in 1972 and was qualified then. In the same way whenever they have Orson Welle's THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND ready, it will qualify in all categories even though it was shot in 1976.

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 5:18 PM   
 By:   Jim Doherty   (Member)

Thomas,

On the Warner Bros. DVD set:

1.) Is the score isolated on the movie disc or the "extras" disc. (I'd rather get the single-disc version if I can.)
2.) Is it truly an isolated score track, or is it a music and effects track?

Thanks.

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 6:33 PM   
 By:   joec   (Member)

Thomas,

On the Warner Bros. DVD set:

1.) Is the score isolated on the movie disc or the "extras" disc. (I'd rather get the single-disc version if I can.)
2.) Is it truly an isolated score track, or is it a music and effects track?

Thanks.


Hi

I have this DVD set. The iso score is included on the 2nd disc with the special features. It runs 59 minutes with several chapter stops.

Unfortunately, and most disappointing, it is actually a music and effects track. It is presented in an unusual fashion, on its own, in continuous form, away from the feature film. Not the best listening experience. Not sure if any music-only stems exist, but if they do, this could make a great CD release.

What I find so interesting about LIMELIGHT was that it was filmed entirely in Hollywood, but was not released there for many years. NYC did host a roadshow engagement during 1952.

 
 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 6:44 PM   
 By:   Jim Doherty   (Member)

Joec: Thank you so much for that info.

For the prices that 2-DVD set is commanding, I don't want to dish out the cash for a music and effects track.

I will say that I have an old London 45 of the theme from LIMELIGHT, plus a suite of incidental themes on side two. I believe it's performed by Frank Chacksfield. That will have to do for now.

 
 Posted:   May 27, 2015 - 8:30 PM   
 By:   Guy   (Member)

Dave, you might want to check out the Criterion Limelight page as they a have a short video interview with Clair Bloom on it

 
 Posted:   Jun 12, 2025 - 5:01 PM   
 By:   Sir David of Gromit   (Member)

Since there's no "sheet music by Charlie Chaplin" thread from SheetMusicMan, I'll post here that I found "Terry's Theme".

 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 7:39 AM   
 By:   Dana Wilcox   (Member)

I have read that some of Charlie Chaplin's "scores" were transcribed by David Raksin from hummed themes by Chaplin, much as Lennie Niehaus transformed Clint Eastwood's "themes" into instrumentalist-performable music for some of his films. Was this true for LIMELIGHT as well?

 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 7:45 AM   
 By:   Nicolai P. Zwar   (Member)

Not sure about the details, but as far as I know, Charles Chaplin didn't write music at all, but knew what he wanted. So to realize the scores he "composed", he needed orchestrators. I don't know how specific Chaplin was, if he merely "hummed" the music to them, or if there were feedback loops and more detailed discussions.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 8:29 AM   
 By:   lostinscores   (Member)

Whistling Charlie Chaplin he was…

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 9:27 AM   
 By:   Prince Damian   (Member)

Am I wrong in thinking that Charlie could play the violin?

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 10:37 AM   
 By:   lostinscores   (Member)

As an amateur, yes he did.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 6:53 PM   
 By:   Prince Damian   (Member)

So he could play his music people his tunes that way.

 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 10:15 PM   
 By:   Dana Wilcox   (Member)

So he could play his music people his tunes that way.

'Cept he didn't. So the story goes.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 13, 2025 - 11:44 PM   
 By:   Prince Damian   (Member)

So he could play his music people his tunes that way.

'Cept he didn't. So the story goes.



Now that's odd, I would've.

 
 
 Posted:   Jun 14, 2025 - 5:22 AM   
 By:   lostinscores   (Member)

So he could play his music people his tunes that way.

He could, but as far as I know he did not. It was a collaborative effort, but I always found it tricky to give him Music by credits… but then, others did go the same route as well.

 
You must log in or register to post.
  Go to page:    
© 2025 Film Score Monthly. All Rights Reserved.
Website maintained and powered by Veraprise and Matrimont.