THE GOLD RUSH

US, 1925, 72 Minutes, Black and White.
Charles Chaplin, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Georgia Hale, Betty Morrissey.
Directed by Charles Chaplin.

The Gold Rush is a Chaplin classic of the mid-20s. Having established himself as a master of short films and comic style in the second decade of our century, Chaplin had established himself also as 'the little man' and 'the tramp'. As the 20s came on, he moved into feature films with sentimental comedies like The Kid and his attempt at serious drama with A Woman of Paris. This was followed by The Gold Rush which has some of the most famous of comedy routines especially the house on the edge of the cliff. Chaplin later put a musical score to the film during the 30s as he did with most of his silent features. The Gold Rush as with the features of the 20s presents Chaplin at his best.

1. How enjoyable a Chaplin comedy? The particular nature of Chaplin's style as a person, comic manner?

2. The film is considered a Chaplin classic. Why? As a silent classic, the addition of sound, Chaplin's own voice-over, music?

3. The importance of the commentary and Chaplin's own attitude towards the little fellow? Moralizing, sympathy, sentiment, sentimentality?

4. The importance of the visuals and their quality: the snow, the sets, the hut, the saloon, the ship?

5. How important were the set pieces of comic business? How successful: the wind blowing in the hut, the little man avoiding the rifle barrel, the house balancing on the cliff, the meal with the eating of the boot, Big Jim imagining the little fellow as a chook?

6. The theme of the gold rushes and American dreams and getting rich quickly? The long line of those going to the mines? Lack of fulfilment, the fulfilment of dreams at the end?

7. The character of the little man and what he represented? As contrasting with Big Jim, Black Larsen as the villain? The little man and the encounter with Georgia, the girl of elusive dreams? The happy ending?

8. Big Jim and his dreams, Black Larsen and his murderous villainy? Good rewarded, evil punished?

9. Georgia as the heroine, the other girls in the saloon, the dancing, the visit and the mockery, forgetting the dinner? The little man imagining the happiness of them at the dinner? Their change of heart? Reconciliation before Big Jim took him off?


10. The humour of rediscovering the mine and gaining wealth? The ship sequences and the fulfilment?

11. Insight into human nature via character, situations? The charm and humour of Chaplin's work?