Artivels Undescribable Perfection

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

DubyaHan The movie is wildly uneven but lively and timely - in its own surreal way

Stephan Hammond It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

arminhage There are some famous names, Charles Chaplin, Marlon Brando... Sophia Loren, yes, her! As usual playing a woman from slum who tries to blackmail a man of status, 120% cliché! But the cliché and predictability is not a major problem, I never expected Billy Wilder from Charles Chaplin. The problem is that the whole thing happens in room in a ship with essentially 2-3 characters. It could be a good play for theatre or even Broadway adding some songs but making a feature film based on a play so simple and lame? Sophia Loren would jump on it I bet but I really don't know what Chaplin persuaded Brando to play in it as the movie was so bad that it had the potential to single handedly end his career. May his soul rest in heaven but I guess it was time for Chaplin to just give up on cinema and enjoy his rest of the days.

SimonJack Movie goers, film critics, and people in general have at least one tendency that often clouds our judgment. It's called stereotyping. In this case, it seems to be a consensus of many in all three above groups, that Marlon Brando was miscast as Ogden Mears in "A Countess from Hong Kong." And, apparently to the detriment of the whole film. But, was he? Or have many people viewed this film bitten by that stereotype bug that can infect our brains? Marlon Brando – the serious actor! The master actor of dramatic roles! How could he be any good in comedy? He doesn't even know how to smile or laugh!Well, after seeing this movie, I have to think that Charlie Chaplin knew full well what he was doing. Even if the critics of the time and many viewers then and now can't see it, or appreciate it. Chaplin, the comedy genius and super-talented actor, writer and composer, did not just put out a flop for his last film. He managed to do another very clever, funny and entertaining piece of the milieu in which he excelled. No, it's not his best, but it fits nicely with all his other films in the "better" category."Countess" has a good serving of wit and sight gags – two hallmarks of great Chaplin comedy. Not as many as in "The Great Dictator," "Monsieur Verdoux," or "A King in New York." But his inimitable style for simple, yet sophisticated comedy is stamped all over this film. Others have commented on his musical mastery and a little history behind this film. Since much criticism is aimed at Brando and his part, I'll just dissect that a bit. Brando's role was the perfect straight man for this scenario. Only, he doesn't have one joker, buffoon or eccentric sidekick. Rather, he is the central character that several others play off of in comedic interplay – mostly light, but at times very funny. His serious side is exactly what is needed to make the rest of it work as it does. Some have noted that Cary Grant or Rock Hudson would have been more natural in this role. Sure, they would have added their amusing, bewildered or befuddled expressions to the dialog for good laughs. And, their characters would have been more in tune with that of the countess. But I don't think that's what Chaplin had in mind. Remember – Ogden Mears was prominent in political circles and feted as ambassadorial material. So, Chaplin wanted a real person, from real life, to put in this role to add a sense of sharper contrast to the humor of the plot. I think Brando was his pick for that reason. And, I think it works well. All we need do to thoroughly enjoy this film, is cast aside any preconceptions we may have about who can play what type of roles. Then, sit back and watch this film as it is. And enjoy the wonderful Chaplin wit. As for the family fest – his son Sydney did quite well as Harvey, one of those who played nicely off Brando's straight man. And daughter, Geraldine, was among the club dancers early in the film, though without any lines. Charlie's two cameos were nice; the latter very funny where the chief steward himself was fighting seasickness. All in all, those of the Chaplin clan made nice filler for his last film.

maystheaterlog It may be understandable that viewers would expect Brando performing as a typical Chaplin-style comedian because it is a Chaplin comedy.From the perspective of almost 50 years later, the movie works it is because of Brando's flawless performance as a upper-class man of his era who is serious, decent and conservative. His response to a desperate but beautiful woman is accurate.Brando's interpretation of the role of an upper-class man by his gestures, manners and intents is so accurate and consistent that makes the plot believable while allowing audience to relate to the glory of a true love happening in an impossible union.As usual, Brando doesn't play himself, but he is in the character he is in.If stripping out all the elements of supposedly Chaplin style of comedy, the script is well-written. It makes sense and believable.Here even in Chaplin's supposedly lesser work, his genius shines, at least to me.

CitizenCaine A Countess From Hong Kong was the last film Charles Chaplin directed, produced, and acted in, though he appears only very briefly as an old ship steward. The film stars a woefully miscast Marlon Brando as Ogden Mears, a U.S. Ambassador, who meets Sophia Loren, a runaway Russian Countess from Hong Kong. She stows away on Brando's ship, imposing on him while aboard. What could have have been a screwball farce in the 1930's or 1940's became a resounding dud in the 1960's. The script is the biggest letdown, and apparently Chaplin wrote it many years ago without revisiting it before shooting. The film simply isn't funny beyond a chuckle or two. Why he decided to cast Brando is anyone's guess, but the two did not get along during filming at all. Loren tries hard, but she would certainly have fared better with another light comedy type of actor. The film spends far too much time in Brando's room, and one gets the idea Chaplin had to economize on the sets somehow to be able to re-shoot scenes due to the rigidity of filming on a tight schedule in England. The always underused Tippi Hedren only appears in the last twenty minutes as Brando's suspicious wife. Chaplin's son Sydney as Harvey and Patrick Cargill as Hudson are the two bright spots in the film. Margaret Rutherford appears as Miss Gaulswallow in a nice cameo. Geraldine Chaplin appears as a young lass in the dancing scene, as well as Chaplin's younger children Josephine and Victoria. It's a very disappointing final film from Chaplin. *1/2 of 4 stars.