Chaplin Today: The Circus (2003) Online

Like other films in the "Chaplin Today" series, this is included with the full-length movie as a DVD extra on the Warner Brothers disks. The overall style of the film is similar to the others in the series. It begins with background and production information about the film (in this case, "The Circus"). This portion is rather interesting and is helpful in understanding the context for the full-length film. Unfortunately, like these other documentaries, the film very abruptly changes in style. Now a modern director (in this case Emir Kusturica) is given a chance to view the film and make some mostly irrelevant comments about it. I say irrelevant because the man is not a film historian (like Leonard Maltin or Peter Bogdonovich) or even an expert on Chaplin. His choice, like many of the others, seems rather random and is completely dull and unimpressive. To place the work of a genius like Chaplin in the lap of these directors seems rather shabby.

I'd give the first half of this film a 6. It's mildly interesting but all too brief. The final portion....well,...the less said the better.