Director: Charlie Chaplin
Year: 1925
Country: US
Language: English
After seeing Charlie Chaplin's The Kid, The Circus, City Lights, Modern Times and The Great Dictator I made a conscious effort not to see The Gold Rush because I feared it would be a let down. What artist can have a perfect filmography? It was only until I heard that the Criterion Collection was releasing this film with a special edition that I sought it out. It played at the local Cinematheque in May for four days. After seeing the film in theatres once I decided to go again...and again...and again. While I feel it isn't as good as Modern Times it's still pretty damn good. I bought the Criterion DVD when it was released and I still find it hilarious, even though I've seen it over ten times.
Charlie Chaplin made The Gold Rush after an unsuccessful attempt at melodrama with A Woman in Paris which was a purposeful attempt at breaking away from the simplistic comedies of his early career. Despite returning to his original comedic genre, he still had a newfound sense of ambition. If he was going to make a comedy he would make something worthwhile that would be remembered throughout the ages. The result, this film.Combined with inspiration from a series of slides detailing a vast march of Klondike gold prospectors and a gruesome account of an expedition leading to cannibalism,The Gold Rush is just as grand and engaging as any serious drama Chaplin wanted to make. Chaplin's commitment to make this rather unpleasant story a heartwarming comedy is what cements this film among the greats.
Despite being referenced by many modern films and television shows,this film is sometimes remembered as merely a series of comic scenes. What is often neglected about The Gold Rush is the pure craftsmanship that went along with every scene. Chaplin knew how to use the right amount of special effects, music and acting to make his scenes incredibly tense or incredibly funny. Film historians are still impressed by how advanced Chaplin's technical skills were compared to the average filmmaker of the 1920's. Chaplin was nearly peerless with his comedy, satires and social crticism. With The Gold Rush he exposed the inhumane atrocities of Klondike prospecting life and the class struggles around the time and the adherence to them which prevemted proper human interaction.
The Gold Rush shows hom much Charlie Chaplin has matured as a filmmaker. Subtle but deceptively inventive camera-work perfectly compliments each scene whether it is to create a bold statement with sweeping long shots or to show great great emmotion and tenderness with intimate close-ups. This film is far from simple gags, it is an emotional and technical masterpiece. One of the strongest cinematic works produced during the silent era, itt highlights Chaplin's genius as well as his sentimental side. You can't help but root for the Little Tramp to get the girl and a gold, even when he accidentally uses a leash (dog included) for a belt.
In conclusion, you'll laugh, smile and cry because of this delightful masterwork. I plan to see this film on the big screen again, when it comes to the Symphony Orchestra in 2013. Maybe this is more of a winter film, and the jokes will be more relevant to people who live in a cold city for most of the year. In that case Canadians young and old will love this film. While City Lights is often regarded as Chaplin's best work, I feel this truly shows the director's love for film. Praise it! 5/5
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