Charlie Chaplin inspired Dan's career, and Dan returned the favor by training Robert Downey, Jr. for his Oscar-nominated performance as the comic legend and writing several acclaimed books analyzing Chaplin's artistry, including The Comedy of Charlie Chaplin and Charlie Chaplin's Red Letter Days. Dan shares his insights in three entertaining live programs, each of which includes the screening of a newly restored Chaplin masterwork.
These programs thrill audiences because the restored Chaplin films are a revelation, and, as Robert Downey, Jr. says, “Dan's insights are amazing.”
CHAPLIN SPECIALS
In 1914 World War One shook the world with bombs and Charlie Chaplin shook it with laughter. In Charlie Chaplin's Red Letter Days you'll discover the surprising ways in which the great comedian affected the Great War and vice versa. The program includes the screening of a newly restored print of Chaplin's blockbuster war comedy Shoulder Arms, released while the bloody conflict was still raging. Don't miss this fascinating excursion into the public and private worlds of the comic legend whose films still make audiences roar with laughter. Click the poster for a preview.
Welcome to the funhouse! Dan begins Funny Bones by introducing The Pawnshop, featuring Chaplin as a comic dervish who turns his dreary workplace into a mad funhouse. Then—with the help of the audience—Dan peels the film's layers to reveal its surprising depths, along with the comic secrets that have kept audiences laughing for over a century.
The Kid at 100
In 1921 Charlie Chaplin's The Kid took the world by storm. The story of a penniless tramp who adopts an abandoned infant struck a powerful chord in the aftermath of a devastating war and equally devastating pandemic which left millions dead and thousands of children orphaned. In The Kid at 100 Dan reveals what keeps this film fresh, funny and incredibly moving to this day. The program begins with the screening of a beautifully restored print of the film, followed by Dan's illustrated talk and a lively audience discussion.
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