Unseen Charlie Chaplin footage released on DVD

Film fans will be able to view unreleased footage of Charlie Chaplin mimicking Adolf Hitler for his film The Great Dictator later this month.

The film has been stored in the cellar of Chaplin's former home in the Swiss village of Corsier-sur-Vevey for the past 70 years.

It's the only surviving footage of his film rehearsals and is unusual because it's in colour.

It was shot in 1938 on the set of Chaplin's first "talkie" and shows him dressed in a red and brown military uniform waltzing in an ornate ballroom as well as shots of him practicing the goose-step walk off-stage.

Chaplin's son Eugene says the film is extremely valuable as his father had destroyed all other rough footage.

He commented: "My father was a perfectionist. He only ever wanted his audience to see his best work which is why he only allowed the final takes to be kept and destroyed all other outtakes.

The footage will be released on DVD at the end of the month.