Watch A Burlesque on Carmen For Free

Fantastic!

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Blistering performances.

Am a big fan of Charlie Chaplin, have been for over a decade now. Many films and shorts of his are very good to masterpiece, and like many others consider him a comedy genius and one of film's most important and influential directors. From his Essanay period after leaving Keystone, 'A Burlesque on Carmen' is not one of his very best but is one of his best early efforts and among the better short films of his. It shows a noticeable step up in quality though from his Keystone period, where he was still evolving and in the infancy of his long career, from 1914, The Essanay period is something of Chaplin's adolescence period where his style had been found and starting to settle. Something that can be seen in the more than worthwhile 'A Burlesque on Carmen'. The story is still flimsy and actually one of the most lightweight ones of the Essanay period, there are times where it struggles to sustain the short length, and could have had more variety.On the other hand, 'A Burlesque on Carmen' looks pretty good, not incredible but it was obvious that Chaplin was taking more time with his work and not churning out countless shorts in the same year of very variable success like he did with Keystone. Appreciate the importance of his Keystone period and there is some good stuff he did there, but the more mature and careful quality seen here and later on is obvious.While not one of his most hilarious or touching, 'A Burlesque on Carmen' is still very funny with some clever, entertaining and well-timed slapstick and is one of his first to have substance and pathos after 'The Bank', 'The Night in the Show' and 'The Tramp'. It moves quickly and there is no dullness in sight. The ending is great fun.Chaplin directs more than competently, if not quite cinematic genius standard yet. He also, as usual, gives an amusing and expressive performance and at clear ease with the physicality and substance of the role. The supporting cast acquit themselves well, particularly a charming Edna Purviance.In summary, very good and one of the best from Chaplin's Essanay period. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Director: CHARLES CHAPLIN. Screenplay: Charles Chaplin. Based on the 1846 novel by Prosper Merimee and its 1875 operatic adaptation by Georges Bizet (music) and Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halevy (book and lyrics). Photographed in black-and-white by Roland Totheroh and Harry Ensign. Scenic artist: E.T. Mazy. Assistant director: Ernest Van Pelt. Producer: Jesse J. Robbins. An Essanay Production.Copyright 3 April 1916 by Essanay Film Manufacturing Co. U.S. release: 5 April 1916. Running time: around 35 minutes at a speed of 16 frames per second.Copyright title: CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S BURLESQUE ON CARMEN.NOTES: A burlesque not so much on the novel and Bizet opera, but on the two rival 1915 versions: the De Mille epic starring Geraldine Farrar, and the William Fox production starring Theda Bara. Would you believe it, Chaplin's burlesque was then itself burlesqued — by James A. Fitzpatrick, of all people — as Chip's Carmen, released a month or two later. Both Chaplin's and Fitzpatrick's juvenile burlesques were then forced to compete with yet another burlesque of Fox/De Mille, this time in cartoon form! In addition to the two "straight" U.S. productions and the three lampoons, "Carmen" was also represented in 1916 American cinemas by the May release of Ugo Serra's Italian epic. The latter really swamped the market with no less than 226 prints in circulation in the U.S.A., compared to only 15 for the De Mille picture!Chaplin had no intention of making a four-reel movie. He intended, as usual, to edit it down to two. But Essanay, perceiving the market was "hot" for Carmen and that they could charge double rates for a double two-reeler, went ahead with the four-reel release. Chaplin sued Essanay to prevent distribution, but lost.COMMENT: Chaplin was right! At four reels, Carmen out-stays its welcome. In fact it's a bit disappointing all around. No long-lost masterpiece this! Even the photography seems inferior to the usual high standard of Chas Chaplin productions. Nonetheless, it certainly has immense curiosity value — as a rare full house of critics at our recent Hollywood Classics screening testifies. The problem is that the film is just not funny enough to sustain its present length.

Although it is hard to follow the story of Carmen opera in this spoof (it is quite confusing), that is a very funny short from genius Charles Chaplin. Charlie does not play his tramp here, but a military called Darn Hosiery, a tramp-like version of Don José. There are numerous hilarious situations, making the fans not to miss the little tramp. Chaplin's slapstick is brilliant as usual. Just imagine comedian like Chaplin with military costumes, weapons, and making their gestures... It is as if the comedian were in an amusing park! The fencing (judo?!) scene is excellent! Intertitles make as laugh a lot too. Edna Purviance had one of her best performances in my opinion, as Carmen. Great end!

You gotta be a fan of the little man but I found Burlesque on Carmen dull, unimaginative and totally not funny.Chaplin is retelling the story of Carmen and plays a big role himself as Don Jose. It's a story about men and the women they love, although it's unclear why one would love such a woman as Carmen, as she is playing the men against each other.As I said I didn't think much of it. Chaplin made dozens and dozens of better movies so you can leave this one on the shelve.Oh and I'm curious what the difference is between this movie and the 1915 version... or is it just an IMDB mistake?On the whole: 3/10.