The Gold Rush

The Gold Rush (1925) Charlie Chaplin

            During the discussion we went over how Charlie Chaplin uses a lot of physical comedy.  During the very first scene of the movie as he is trying to get to Alaska and where the gold rush is he is walking on the side of a mountain.  He is slipping and sliding on the very edge of death but yet his character remains blissfully unaware.  This led to a very entertaining scene in the very beginning of the movie.

            Charlie Chaplin was inspired to make the movie “The Gold Rush” by two sources.  One source more obvious than the other.  The first subject that inspired him was the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896.  He was shocked by the photo of hundreds of men lined up the Chilkoot Pass.  Shortly after seeing the picture he read a book entitled “the Donner Party Disaster of 1846.”  He used both situations in specific scenes in his movie.  The book spoke of men having to eat their moccasins out of hunger and eating their fallen friends.  While trying to find a lead role Chaplin rehired Lollita MacMurray who had had used in a prior film.  She was 16 and Chaplin had an affair with her and she got pregnant.  He was forced to marry her but they did eventually have another child.  Shooting the film was very elaborate.  Some was shot on the Chilkoot pass and some was also shot on miniatures for more special effects.  The models were so well made that it is hard to distinguish the difference between nature and manmade.  I thought that the special effect in the film were amazing.  I thought the scene where the house was being blown over the cliff was really cool.

http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/biography/articles/5-The-Gold-Rush

            I was surprised at how easy it was to watch “The Gold Rush.  I have seen parts of some of the first silent films and I didn’t like them very much.  I thought that the movie never really bored me and went along at a good pace.  I really like when the main female character pointed at Chaplin and he pointed to himself and then looked around in disbelief.  I have seen this used in many movies or videos in general and I was surprised that it had been come up with so many years ago.  I thought much of the humor can be easily understood today.  I never really felt like the film was too outdated for someone to watch today.  The special effects were really wonderful and I am glad that I watched the movie.