A Woman of Paris (Criterion) 04/25 Blu-ray (Rental)

Remarkable for its psychological nuance and its boldly modern perspective on an independent woman’s search for fulfillment, Charlie Chaplin’s long-overlooked silent masterpiece A Woman of Paris is a revelation. Chaplin confounded 1923 audiences with this unexpected foray into serious drama, and by ceding the spotlight to his longtime screen partner Edna Purviance. She is captivating as the vivacious Marie St. Clair, a “woman of fate” who leaves behind her small-minded village for the glamour of Paris, where she finds herself at the center of a Jazz Age whirl of champagne soirees, luxurious pleasure-seeking, romance, and tragedy. Putting aside his Little Tramp persona, Chaplin’s second feature proved that, beyond being a comic genius, he was an artist of immense sensitivity and human understanding. BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES New 4K digital restoration of the 1976 rerelease version, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack featuring a score composed by director Charlie Chaplin Alternate score from 2005 created by conductor Timothy Brock, based on music by Chaplin, presented in uncompressed stereo Introduction by Chaplin scholar David Robinson New video essay by Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance Chaplin Today: “A Woman of Paris,” featuring interviews with actor Liv Ullmann and filmmaker Michael Powell Archive Commentary: About “A Woman of Paris,” a documentary by Arnold Lozano, managing director of Roy Export S.A.S. Excerpts from an audio interview with Chaplin Studios cinematographer Roland Totheroh Deleted shots from the original 1923 film Archival footage Trailers PLUS: An essay by critic Pamela Hutchinson and notes by Brock on the 2005 score