IMDb user comments for
Gold Rush, The (1925)
Comments index for The Gold Rush
Date: 28 March 2004
Summary: Chaplin classic
One of the great Chaplin movies is 'The Gold Rush' and although it is not
his best it contains one of the best known Chaplin-sequences. The sequence
with the dancing rolls is one of the best I have seen in any Chaplin,
whether it is a feature film or a two-reeler. For me this alone makes 'The
Gold Rush' worth watching.
There are other great moments in this story where Chaplin is the Lone
Prospector who falls in love with a girl named Georgia (Georgia Hale). When
Chaplin has to find some gold (the movie isn't name 'The Gold Rush' for
nothing) together with Hank (Henry Bergman) they stay in a cottage in the
mountains. The sequence with this cottage after a blizzard is another that
belongs to the greatest sequences in a Chaplin movie.
Of course we know from the start how things will end with the girl and the
gold but the way that leads to that point is a nice one. Personally I think
it is not great all the time, some sequences make it great, and sometimes
even a little too simple. Because of the sequences described above (and some
others) and because of the artist that Chaplin is this still belongs to the
better silent movies I have seen.
Date: 29 January 2004
Summary: One of the best movies ever made
One of the best Chaplin movies, which means one of the best movies ever
made. Good structure and a lot of excellent classic scenes such as
`Eating
the shoe' and `The Roll Dance'. Both the original version and the second
release have their own charm.
Date: 27 January 2004
Summary: Dancing Rolls
Spoilers herein.
I consider `City Lights' to be a masterwork, one of the films that every
literate person
must see. This film is often equally celebrated, but it seems to be a random
collection of
integrated ideas to me. Some work, most don't.
The 1942 rescore and voiceover is much tighter visually but sonicly heavy.
If you have a
chance with the DVD, see it in the 42 recut with no sound and
subtitles.
The one skit that works the best is the famous dancing rolls bit. You really
must see
three versions of this one after another. Look at the original. Then see the
Robert
Downey Jr version done in 1992, almost 70 years later. Notice how much more
comic
Downey's is because he uses a different timing and is both doing it and
referencing the
Chaplin dance. Then see the Johnny Depp version of the year later, which
pokes fun at
the Downey version and reannotates the original. A work of genius overlain
on a
masterpiece.
Otherwise, there are better silent comedies to see. And better
Chaplin.
Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.
Date: 7 November 2003
Summary: Striking Gold Again and Again.
Charles Chaplin's "The Gold Rush" is arguably his finest film. He stars as a
wimpy prospector who decides to go to the Klondike in the hopes of striking
it rich. What he does not realize is that he may find love (in the form of
Georgia Hale) instead of money. In the end that may be all right with him.
"The Gold Rush" shows everything that made Charles Chaplin the great
performer, writer and director he was. Quite possibly the finest cinematic
icon of the 20th Century, Chaplin showed humanity, love and an undying want
to entertain all audiences throughout his stellar cinematic career. The
movie is exceptional in every way. Although I am not as well-versed with
movies from the 1920s as I am with the decades following it, I would still
probably call "The Gold Rush" the finest film of that 10-year period. Oh how
the cinema misses Charles Chaplin today. 5 stars out of
5.
Date: 11 September 2003
Summary: Chaplin's Complete Comedy Classic!
This little film is a great display of the true comedic genius of Charlie
Chaplin and his "Little Tramp" character. The film isn't powerfully
dramatic
but still stands the test of the time in terms of comedy. Chaplin's
elaborate and well-prepared sight gags really show how his style differed
from the frantic & wild pace of Max Sennatt's silent films. Plus his
"Tramp"
character is a very sympathetic and human character as you do feel his
emotions as he tries to win Georgia's heart. Overall Chaplin did a
fantastic
job on this classic and it deserves recognition as one of the best
comedies
of all-time. Without a doubt, a solid 10/10!
Date: 5 August 2003
Summary: The Greatest Comedy of all time!
I just bought the new Warner Brothers release of "The Gold Rush" (1925) and
I finally got to see the 1942 re-released version in which Chaplin narrated
it himself and of course his own musical score. I absolutely love Charlie
Chaplin music in his talkies from 1931 to 1967, it's magnificent. The Gold
Rush is in my view the greatest comedy of all time because what other
filmmaker could make a comedy out of drama. The Gold Rush is based of course
on The Gold Rush in Alaska and Chaplin's places his little tramp character
into the story along with many other significant characters such Big Jim
McKay, Black Larsen, Georgia, Jack and Hank Curtis.
The Gold Rush is a must see! I highly reccomend this masterpiece!
Date: 8 July 2003
Summary: One of the little Tramp's masterpieces (contains slight spoilers)
The primitive production values, the decrepit-looking camera work, and the
silent soundtrack (with only musical scores to suffice for the lack of the
talkie in that era) does little to ruin the viewer's chance of being
entertained by this highly enjoyable classic masterpiece by Charlie Chaplin.
The Little Tramp finds himself in the Yukon, braving the wintery elements,
bears, and a psychopath, all for the sake of claiming his own fortune of
gold. Under his expert direction, Chaplin guides THE GOLD RUSH with
painstaking detail of what life would be like to live in the freezing
extremes, having to shack up in a cabin in danger of toppling over a
snow-capped cliff, and feasting on shoes for protein. Amidst all the
atrocities, Chaplin, being that likeable underdog that everybody roots for
and loves, overcomes the odds, managing to make the best out of a bad (read:
terrible) situation. He even takes the time to humor himself, and a few
ladies, with a song-and-dance number involving two forks and a pair of
potatoes.
Date: 20 June 2003
Summary: Funny and a real classic
THE GOLD RIUSH
Funny and nice comedy classic from the forever Charlie Chaplin that
always
entertains. It is not really hilarious in any way, but it's fine and very
entertaining and very choosy, to say it that way.
Chaplin challenges some guys and a woman in this movie where the most of
the
story takes place in a cold cabin in the middle of nowhere.
STARS: **** 4/5
Date: 13 May 2003
Summary: Funny
Contains spoiler!!
The Gold Rush (1925) is the first feature length Charlie Chaplin film
I've
seen, but during it I was constantly thinking about Jim Carrey. Well,
not
just about Carrey, more about why Chaplin is usually funny while Carrey
is
usually annoying. To be fair, Chaplin, like Carrey, plays the same guy
again and again (his Little Tramp). Both use a lot of physical humor,
occurring either to them or to another character. And the movies of both
often have elaborate sequences which are funny on their own but whose
whole
purpose is to lead up to a joke that can't have existed without the prior
sequence. Both actors are so similar, so why do I only find one
funny?
What they're doing doesn't matter, it is entirely how they're doing it.
Chaplin has dignity and poise, whereas Carrey is an ass. In The Gold
Rush,
Chaplin is supposed to be a downtrodden, unassuming, considerate guy.
And
it's so skillfully crafted that I bought it. When Chaplin enters the
frontier bar for the first time it is crowded with people, but he quietly
weaves his way through the crowd, hands at his sides, seeming not even to
notice when people ram into him in their revelry. Or consider the
sequence
where Big Jim McKay and Black Larsen fight for the shotgun: the whole
time
they are fighting, the gun is pointed directly at Chaplin's head. Does
Chaplin scream and gesture wildly? No, he crawls and hops and attempts
madly to get out of the way, urgently trying to avoid getting noticed,
and
it's funny because you can see the terror Chaplin emanates, almost smell
his
(quiet) desperation. It's funny because McKay and Larsen don't even know
Chaplin's there. In this situation Carrey would have transformed into
some
sort of gibbering, crack filled howler monkey. Everyone knows he's there,
and oh look, he's being zany. Woo-hoo.
I didn't mind when Charlie Chaplin won in the end, got rich, got the
girl.
As mentioned, I bought into the character, was forced to fork over a
little
empathy and actually like the guy. Anyone who can watch Chaplin
meticulously prepare a dinner for several beautiful women who have sworn
they'll show up, watch him crumble as the evening drags on women-less,
and
then watch him forgive and accept one of those women without hesitation
and
then not like `the Tramp' is a heartless bastard. I wanted Chaplin to
win,
he deserved to win, he's so goddamned nice to everybody that for him to
lose
would be a crime against humanity. I hate it when Carrey wins. Every
character he plays is horrid, even the `good guys' we're supposed to root
for. They're all obtrusive, loud, obnoxious, vulgar, and flat out
insane.
They only thing they deserve is a straightjacket and enough Thorazine to
drop a horse.
The point is that dignity serves more than one purpose, especially for
Charlie Chaplin. His valiant struggle to retain his dignity not only
makes
all the horrible things that happen to him entertaining (and hilarious!)
but
gives us an excuse, a good one, to like and identify with him. No-one
should win simply because they're the main character and the script
demands
it.
Date: 11 March 2003
Summary: Is It Better Than City Lights, though?
The eternal question for many Chaplin fans is is The Gold Rush better than
City Lights? There are some who would argue for Modern Times or maybe
even
The Great Dictator. There are even a few who like Monsieur Verdoux. But
to
say this film is better than City Lights is definitely inviting
controversy.
As a statement on social mores and values City Lights is far more
indicting. As an important piece of film City Lights shows us many things
that had never been done before and perhaps may never be done again on the
big screen. But as a sheer enjoyable romp in The Little Tramp's world
City
Lights falls short. It is buried in social commentary whereas the Gold
Rush
has some social issues to deal with but nothing much new from previous
works
until the end where it neatly summarizes what "Charlot" has been all about
all along. It is that ending which makes the Gold Rush the best of
Chaplin's
works and the one I will watch just for the sheer joy of seeing the artist
in his prime. 10 out of 10.
Date: 26 February 2003
Summary: Shrug
This was my first Chaplin film and I'm not terribly impressed. I can see
why he is so popular as his character (the tramp) is definitely memorable.
The movie has a few good bits, but altogether it doesn't really hold up to a
Buster Keaton film. This movie is 72 mins. long and I kept pausing it cuz I
was bored.
The bread roll dance (later done by Johnny Depp in Benny & Joon) was fairly
clever, and I'd have to say that was the high point of the film for
me.
I gave it a 5. Average film. I am not going to rank it lower because
something tells me not to.
Date: 13 October 2002
Summary: ****
Charlie Chaplin provides some terrific comedy is this silent masterpiece.
In
the snowy mountains of Alaska, three prospectors (one of them is the
Tramp)
are out looking for gold. Soon, they all find an old cabin to live in and
head out to the town where the Tramp falls in love with a young woman
named
Georgia. The comedy is perfectly timed. Especially the scene when Chaplin
uses dinner rolls as feet and dances with them. There are some other
classic
moments too, like when the star eats his boot.
Date: 24 July 2002
Summary: One of the best movies ever Made!!!
This was the first movie Charlie Chaplin made for the company he helped to
found, United Artists. Chaplin wrote, directed and starred in this comedy
about the Gold Rush in. The Opening shot is one of the best and the finale
where Charlie and Mack Swain sleep through a snow storm and their hut ends
up hanging of a cliff. A Must See along with City Lights, Modern Times and
The Great Dictator. 8/10.
Date: 17 April 2002
Summary: Not a stake that paid out
I cannot follow the praise of that movie by other viewers. Unlike his
later
works (such as The Circus, Modern Times, Citylights) the plot is thin and
not well writen. The directing has many flaws, the scenes often ending
abruptly with no clear link to the following. I love Chaplin films, but
this
one was disappointing.
Date: 26 January 2002
Summary: Charlie of the Yukon
"The Gold Rush" (United Artists, 1925), written, directed and starring
Charlie Chaplin, may not be the very best of the Chaplin feature comedies of
the silent era, but has become the very movie in which Chaplin wanted to be
most noted for by future generations. So proud of his achievement, Chaplin
reissued this silent film in 1942 with a new music soundtrack which
introduced a narration written and spoken by Chaplin himself, eliminating
the use of title cards. Then in the summer of 1971, "The Gold Rush" became
the initial movie presented on public broadcasting station's 13-week series
of THE SILENT YEARS, as hosted by Orson Welles, from the Paul Killian
collection with a new and excellent piano score by William
Perry.
"The Gold Rush," which is set in the turn of the century, opens with The
Lone Prospector (Charlie Chaplin) coming to Alaska. A snow storm drives him
into the cabin of "Black" Lawson (Tom Murray), an outlaw. "Big Jim" McKay
(Mack Swain), another prospector who has found gold on his claim, is also
driven in by the storm and into the same cabin. After much struggle, Larson
finds himself having to accept the two men as his guests. Stranded due to
the heavy storm, Larson, finds himself chosen to go out for help. While out
in the storm, he comes upon a couple of officers looking for him. He gets
away by stealing their dog sled, but is later killed in an avalanche. Back
to the cabin, Charlie and Larson, almost in near starvation, eventually make
a meal out of a large bear. When the snow storm finally subsides, the two
men go about their separate ways. Charlie comes to a mining town where he
becomes infatuated with Georgia (Georgia Hale), a dance hall girl, causing
jealousy from her suitor, Jack Cameron (Malcolm Waite). As for Jim, he has
forgotten where his gold claim is, and locates Charlie to help him find it,
separating him from Georgia. The results that follow is classic
Chaplin.
Aside from a large list of supporting players, which consists of frequent
Chaplin character actor Henry Bergman as Hank Curtis, "The Gold Rush"
contains many now classic comedy supplements, including the starving Charlie
cooking his boot in hot water, and using his shoelace as spaghetti;
Charlie's encounter with Georgia; and the near end finale in which Charlie
and Big Jim return to the cabin before setting out to find the claim, in
which the cabin gets blown away during the blizzard that forces the cabin to
be found the next morning halfway over the edge of a cliff which starts to
tilt back and forth as the men make their slightest movement. There are
tender moments, too, including Charlie awaiting for Georgia and her other
friends to accompany him for New Year's Eve dinner, with tears flowing down
his cheek when at the stroke of midnight realizes they are not coming. The
most famous sequence of the entire movie is the one where Charlie falls
asleep and dreams of himself entertaining his dinner guests by using two
forks in two potato rolls as his feet and doing a dance for
them.
With "The Gold Rush" being Chaplin's most revived and discussed movie, one
must never forget his other artistic achievements that followed, including
"The Circus" (1928), "City Lights" (1931), "Modern Times" (1936) and his
talkie debut of "The Great Dictator" (1940). Since the advent of home video
in the early 1980s, "The Gold Rush" consists of various editions and
different music scores, ranging from the use of piano, organ or orchestra.
There are even some editions that have no music track at all, along with
some copies running different time lengths, and others eliminating the final
closing segment set on the boat in which Charlie and Georgia walk on top of
the deck to be interviewed and photographed by the press before the fadeout.
The 1942 reissue, being a shorter print with Chaplin's narration, not only
was presented occasionally on American Movie Classics, but can also be found
on Chaplin's 100th birthday anniversary video edition followed by a 1921
comedy short, "Pay Day." Video or DVD enthusiasts out there certainly will
have a major choice to consider as to which copy to have in their
collection. But in spite of numerous editions, "The Gold Rush" is a golden
treasure that is currently shown on either AMC or Turner Classic Movies with
the piano score by the William Perry piano score. While Chaplin is listed in
the cast solely as The Lone Prospector, avid lip readers will notice that he
is called "Charlie" by his supporting players, especially by
Georgia.
Date: 23 November 2001
Summary: One of the all-time classics!
If anyone doubts that Charlie Chaplin was one of the funniest comedians
ever
or that silent films did not require acting ability, t you a commend this
film, as well as City Lights. Modern Times isn't, strictly speaking, a
silent film, although Chaplin had no dialogue there. The Gold Rush, while
not Chaplin's best film, does feature his best performance and has so many
classic bits, it must be seen. Excellent film. 1942 version redone by
Chaplin is a bit better, but either will do. Most highly recommended.
Date: 16 August 2001
Summary: Classic
Watching "The Gold Rush" was somewhat like listening to great music on a
scratchy old record player instead of on a state of the art CD player; the
experience is just as exciting, but it takes a little getting used to. It's
the same thing all right, but there is just enough difference to slightly
throw you off. After a while you forget about the minor technical variations
and enjoy the wonderful music.
Once I adjusted to the "silence" of Charlie Chaplin's 1925 silent film, I
was able to watch it like any other movie. I could laugh, sympathize, hope,
and loathe for the characters, all of the things a movie can make you do.
All it took was appreciation of the effort it took people like Chaplin who
essentially made something from nothing. In this case, that something is a
funny, innovative, and entertaining movie.
"The Gold Rush" revolves around Chaplin's character, the Lone Prospector, in
the Yukon where many men seek a fortune in gold. He seeks shelter in a cabin
inhabited by wanted criminal Black Larson (Tom Murray) who tries to get rid
of Chaplin in one of the funniest scenes of the movie, in which a strong
wind prevents Chaplin from leaving. Big Jim McKay (Mack Swain), who has
found gold, also enters the cabin. Larson goes out to look food, leaving
Big Jim and Chaplin together. At one point, Big Jim gets so hungry he sees
an illusion of Chaplin as a giant chicken. When I saw this scene, I realized
that it was probably the first time that this invention, which I have seen
in many modern movies and television shows to the point that it is overused,
was applied in film.
Further along in the film, the Chaplin character visits a small boom town
where he meets and falls in love with Georgia (Georgia Hale), who only uses
him to make ladies' man Jack Cameron (Malcolm Waite) jealous and regards the
little shabbily dressed man as a joke. At this point, I didn't care that the
characters didn't really speak or that the film was in black and white. I
was too involved in the story to be bothered by the rudimental aspects of
the film. As the Lone Prospector, Chaplin evoked my sympathy as well as
laughter. I found myself hoping for him to be happy, wanting to see the
underdog eventually come out on top.
While it is impossible to ignore the movie as a silent film, it is equally
impossible to ignore it as a great comedy that could capably rival any
modern comedy, and, like Chaplin's character, come out on top. It is the
original that all others follow, and definitely worth renting even, and
especially, if you have never before seen a silent film.
Date: 6 August 2001
Summary: A Worthy Silent Classic
This silent classic has many strong points - it has a lot of humor,
interesting characters, a good story and good settings. It's the kind of
film that shows how much a master film-maker can communicate in a silent
movie. It overdoes the sentimentality on occasion, but other than that it's
a fine film.
Chaplin himself plays the 'Lone Prospector', and he is joined by several
other interesting characters in a frozen north setting that sets up some
good adventures and drama. There are some memorable scenes in the
prospectors' rickety cabins, plus some other good material.
The version of this that is the easiest to find is the one that Chaplin
re-edited in the 1940's, adding his own narration and deleting the title
cards, which gives it a slightly different feel. (These revisions probably
make it a bit easier to follow for those who aren't used to silent films.)
You can tell from Chaplin's narration how fond he must have been of "The
Gold Rush", and he had a lot of good reasons to be pleased with it. There
are a couple of his later films that might be even better and more timeless,
but this one contains everything that defined Chaplin and his
art.
Date: 11 July 2001
Summary: My Favorite Film
In early cinema, there were several filmmakers who helped revolutionize film
but perhaps no one revolutionized cinema for the better as much as Charlie
Chaplin. His films were lighthearted with good themes and morals, and he
helped show the world what the important things were in life. The Gold Rush
is a defining example of what he could do with celluloid. It is a timeless,
hilarious, touching, poignant, nostalgic film that can endure countless
viewings.
Who can forget characters like The Little Tramp, Big Jim McKay, Georgia,
Jack "The Ladies Man," and Black Larsen? Who can forget the countless
innovative jokes and comedy, such as the fierce winds blowing The Little
Tramp and Big Jim through Larsen's cabin, the scene with the two men
fighting for the shotgun, the Thanksgiving shoe, the chicken hallucinations,
the Tramp's dancing scene with Georgia, the dinner role dance, the teetering
cabin, etc.. I get nostalgic just listening to Chaplin's score: near
euphoria.
If you want to see a Chaplin film, this is the first one you should get your
hands on. Or else, go for The Circus, City Lights, or Modern
Times.
Date: 27 June 2001
Summary: The American comic tradition
Make them laugh, make them laugh. The American comic tradition and
American
movies were made for each other. Gold Rush is one example that Charlie
Chaplin was the father of American comedy. Even though Chaplin loves to
press political, economical, or social messages in his films, The Gold
Rush
remains true to its genre. It is a comedy non the less.
Even at the end of the film when THE TRAMP receives a kiss, Chaplin
reminds
the audience that she has ruined the picture with the kiss. This is
suppose
to be a comedy!
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