Rare Chaplin footage screened

Newly-unearthed colour footage of Charlie Chaplin has been screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

The previously unseen film, including out-takes and home movies, will now be released on DVD.

The material includes colour footage shot backstage on his 1940 black-and-white Hitler satire he Great Dictator.

Chaplin's daughter Geraldine, 57, saw the film for the first time in Cannes yesterday.

She told the BBC how her family had fought over how to preserve her father's films.

"I am one of eight children and we were fighting between ourselves - it was a disaster," she said.

"Then we were given the chance to bring them out on DVD - and we all agreed.

"He was always worried he wouldn't be remembered."

DVDs of 18 of his films, plus documentaries and the unseen gems, will be distributed by Warner Home Video.

President Warren Lieberfarb said Chaplin had "more understaning of cinema comedy than anyone else", adding: "We want to help enhance the cinema literacy of a generation."


To buy Chaplin: His Life And Work from Amazon

Published: 17 May 2002