Search - Carl Davis, City Lights Orchestra :: Charlie Chaplin - City Lights - New Recording of Original 1931 Score

"Meeting The Millionaire...The Nightclub...THE TRAMP"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bringing the score of this Classic Chaplin film can only be described as one of the greatest achievements of film score restorations from the Entertainment Industry---a musicians musician Carl Davis conducts the City Of Lights Orchestra setting the mood for this serious, funfilled and touching story of our favorite "Tramp" (Charlie Chaplin)...falling in love and helping a Blind Flower Girl(Virginia Cherrill)to regain her sight---but some of the biggest laughs are the scenes with the Millionaire (Harry Myers) who just so happens to be drunk fed up and always trying to do away with himself...each scene is funnier than the previous one...Chaplin and Myers are priceless whenever they grace the screen together.Chaplin's score has many counterpoints...ranging from comedy, romance and even heartache...this is probably one of the best scores since "Smile", which became a standard by several recording artists such as Nat "King" Cole and Tony Bennett...but back to the score at hand---"OVERTURE/UNVEILING THE STATUE", is classic Chaplin---"THE FLOWER GIRL(VIOLETERA)", captures the heart---"EVENING/MEETING THE MILLIONAIRE", watch out for the water and the morning after, arrangements with outstanding conceptions hit the mark---"THE NIGHTCLUB-DANCE SUITE", is the highlight of this one-of-a-kind soundtrack, a cue that has Charlie dancing up a storm, and the music fits the bill.Silva Screen Records has brilliantly brought together a lost score, which has now seen the light of day...thank you Nic Raine(producer) and Reynold da Silva(executive producer) for sharing this piece of "Golden Age Silent Hollywood" from Actor/Director/Producer/Editor/Scenario/Composer ~ CHARLIE CHAPLIN(The Tramp) and his classic creation CITY LIGHTS!Total Time: 53:20 on 12 Tracks ~ Silva Screen Records SSD-1054 ~ (1995)"