A Countess from Hong Kong [DVD]

Charlie Chaplin's final film is a delightful romantic comedy, filled with clever touches for which he's famous. Written, directed and composed by Chaplin, it revolves around Russian emigre countess Natascha (Sophia Loren), forced into prostitution in Hong Kong, who stows away in wealthy American Ogden's (Marlon Brando's) stateroom to blackmail her way to the States. Since Ogden has a mind of his own, and can even resist Natascha's charms, what follows is one of the funniest tugs of war ever devised! A wealth of talent supports the stars. There's Chaplin's son, Sydney, as Brando's cruise companion, Tippi Hedren as his icy wife, Patrick Cargill as the ultimate gentleman's gentleman, and Margaret Rutherford as a dotty old dame. Chaplin himself tops it off with a cameo as the ship's steward! The gags are pure Charlie and his actors make the most of them, sailing in and out of slamming doors—and outrageous situations—with ease.