Charlie ChaplinGold Rush & City Lights

Gold Rush: Act 1“The Little Fellow”

o In the klondike to seek his fortune;

oTrapped in Black Larson’s cabin.

Black LarsonoFugitive from the law;oBlack hearted.

Big JimoA prospector who’s found a

“mountain of gold”;oProtects “The Little Fellow” from

Black Larson

Gold Rush: Act 1The Boot Thanksgiving

Perfectionist Chaplin did so many retakes of this scene that the licorice boots made him ill.

Gold Rush: Act 1Chicken

Big Jim hallucinates dinner. Special effects help the gag work.

Gold Rush: Act 2“The Little Fellow”

o In town to seek his fortune;o Is given a job looking after an miners

cabin while he’s away.

Black Larsono Attacks Big Jim, but then swept over

cliff.

Big Jimo Lost his memory after being attacked

by Black Larson;

Georgiao The prettiest Dance Hall girl.

Jacko Pushy, wealthy, ladies man;o Likes Georgia.

Gold Rush: Act 2The Outsider

Depth of field and building frame provide “picture frame” to highlight the little fellow’s isolation.

Gold Rush: Act 2The Outsider

Chaplin combines honest moments of drama without losing the comic nature of “The Little Fellow”

Gold Rush: Act 2The Outsider

Silhouette and solarization effects highlight the Little Fellow’s sense of betrayal.

Gold Rush: Act 2The Bun Dance

This is a film gag that would not work on stage. Chaplin was developing a new form of storytelling.

Gold Rush: Act 3“The Little Fellow”

oWith Big Jim looking for the Mountain of Gold;

Big JimoPromises “The Little Fellow” a

share of his fortune;

GeorgiaoDiscovers she true love.

JackoOut of the picture.

Gold Rush: Act 3The Balancing Act

Gold Rush: Act 3Wealth

Gold Rush: Act 3Happiness

Gold Rush 1925 vs 1942

1925 Silent Version

Gold Rush 1925 vs 1942

1942 Narrated Version

Gold Rush: Key Points Extensive use of close-ups. Sophisticated composition. Sophisticated special effects. Film quality and camera

mechanism prevented camera movement.

Episodic story sequence similar to the 20 minute long shorts Chaplin rose to fame in.

Characters other than “The Little Fellow” are simple caricatures.

City Lights: Act 1“The Little Fellow”

o A tramp who is mistaken for a millionaire by a blind flower girl.

Flower Girlo Living in poverty she supports

herself and her grandmother selling flowers on a street corner.

Millionaireo A rich drunk, who when sober

forgets what he did while he was drunk.

City Lights: Act 1Justice

Chaplin mocks the sound films of the time and provides a visual comment on the impact of “Justice” on the common man.

City Lights: Act 1Love at first sight

City Lights: Act 1A New Friend

City Lights: Act 2The Night Club

City Lights: Act 2A Job

City Lights: Act 2A Scheme

City Lights: Act 3A Solution

City Lights: Act 3Her Prince

City Lights: Act 3AnEnding or Beginning?

City Lights: Act 3Love at first sight

Charles Chaplin reshot the scene 342 times, as he could not find a satisfactory way of showing that the blind flower-girl thought that the mute tramp was wealthy

City Lights“Chaplin's films age so well, I think, because his situations grow out of basic human hungers such as lust, greed, avarice. Those are the hungers on the other side, of course -- the side inhabited by policemen, millionaires, mayors and boxing promoters. All Charlie sends up against them Is his little Tramp, eternally hopeful, concerned only with escaping from the dilemma of the moment.” Roger Ebert / February 25, 1972

City Lights: Key Points Extensive use of close-ups. Sophisticated composition. Sophisticated plot

development. Sophisticated ending. Characters other than “The

Little Fellow” are simple caricatures.