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| THE GOLD RUSH-1925 |
1) Relate what was discussed in
class or the text to the screening.
Charles Spencer Chaplin better known to the world as Charlie
Chaplin used comedy to make a point. While working for Mack Sennet in Keystone
he began to direct his own segments. Chaplin was known for using comedy to
examine social issues as was evident in the
Gold Rush. His film’s also established a now common circular structure of
film.
The film touched down on topics like cannibalism, love and
rejection, ridicule, work ethic and poverty. One scene in particular showcases
the tramp’s cabin ridden associate Big Jim attempting to kill the tramp for
food. Jack’s hallucinations cause him to
see the tramp change into a chicken right before his eyes; a cutting edge
special effect for 1925. A moment inspired by the vicious reality of the Donner
Party.
The Little Tramp is often the source of ridicule. A tiny
man, and often the underdog compared to his larger protagonists who represent
part of the main stream. The Gold Rush
lives up to this tradition with the tramp facing such opposition as “Ladies man”
Jack, Black Larsen, and even for a time Big Jim. In the end though, our
loveable hero comes out on top despite his stature.
Charlie often had female leads that symbolize what is good
in the world, eventually seeing redeeming qualities in the tramp. In the case
of the Gold Rush the love interest is Georgia.
By a fluke, Charlie and Georgia meet, whereupon Charlie invites the girl
to New Year's Eve dinner in the cabin that he is tending for a local
prospector. She forgets all about the invite, and the tramp is the source of
the town’s peoples ridicule (a recurring theme for the tramp). The tramp is left alone in the cabin as his
solidarity pulls at our hearts strings. It is here that he escapes into a
well-known dream sequence of the New Year’s Eve dinner going splendidly. The
tramp goes up against Jack for Georgia’s affections. The film closes with
Georgia, like many of Chaplin’s love interests falling for our loveable hero,
closing on a passionate kiss, and a happy ending.
The Gold Rush
makes a wonderful case for Chaplin’s contribution to film. For all his work
behind the camera, it is what he did on camera with body language, imagery, and
comedy that situate his place in cinematic history.
2)
Find a related article and summarize the content. (on the film, director, studio,
actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) You can use the library or the
internet. Cite the article or copy the
url to your journal entry. Summarize in your own words the related article but
do not plagiarize any content.
The article “Filming the Gold Rush”, as well as the 1992 Chaplin Biopic Chaplin (Starring Robert Downey Junior) deserve to be taken into account by any fan of film history. Charlie Chaplin’s place in annals of film history can’t be denied. The Gold Rush was Chaplin’s greatest financial success and arguably his most critically acclaimed. It sits among some of the greatest films of all time for both its wonderful storytelling and contributions to cinematic history. Despite its many accolades, the filming was long and full of obstacles.
The film’s idea is derived from the 1896 Klondike gold rush
which struck a cord with Chaplin. “Here Chaplin faithfully recreated the
historic image of the prospectors struggling up the Chilkoot Pass,”
(Robinson). It was a moment history
filled with dreams of riches, but the truth was a stark contrast to the dream.
Chaplin set out to make a film on the harsh subject matter with his typical
comic touch, while still making a provocative statement. With this idea in
mind, Chaplin’s “Little Tramp” would now find himself among those prospectors
in 1925’s the Gold Rush.
During filming of the
Gold Rush Chaplin’s personal life would spill over into his work life.
Lillita MacMurray better known as Lita Grey, was cast in the film. She had
previously been in Chaplin’s “The Kid” at the age of 12. Barely 16 during
filming, Chaplin had begun an affair with Lita which led to her pregnancy. The pregnancy
would cause a 3 month hiatus on the film’s production. Lita’s role then needed
to be recast. Georgia Hale was then cast as the Gold Rush’s new leading lady at
the age of 24.
The film took nearly a year and a half to make. The films
special effects, unequaled for its time, were demanding. The Chilkoot Pass
scene required six hundred extras to be filmed on a mountain pass 2300 feet up.
Models of mountain ranges were made requiring ungodly amounts of timber, most
notably the teetering cabin scene.
Considering the demanding scale and many obstacles in the
films way, the Gold Rush was finished
and the end result in nothing short of ground breaking. It touched down on poignant topics with a
comedic touch, took a huge step forward in scale and special effects, and
includes classic scenes that stand the test of time. It is the film that
Chaplin would most like to be remembered for.
3) Apply the article to the film
screened in class. How did the article
support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?
Chaplin was by no means a perfect man. For all his poise and
perfect timing on screen, his life off screen was full of turmoil and
questionable decision making. He had relations with more than one under aged
woman (girls really), had issues with his mentally unstable mother, and made a
rival in J. Edgar Hoover who had a file with well over 1900 pages on Chaplin’s
so-called communist activities.
Most people tend to have an infallible image of Chaplin in
their minds. This assumption that the character was the man is ill conceived.
The article and movie alike humanized who Chaplin was. The idea that the more
things change the more they stay the same comes to mind. The Hollywood of
yester year isn’t very different than the Hollywood of today. These are real
people with real issues. Regardless of Chaplin’s shortcomings, his gift for
film was astounding. He understood what would move an audience.
The Gold Rush was
simply one long harsh shoot filled with many issues to overcome. This only
makes me appreciate the film that much more. The scale was a 1920’s version of
today’s blockbuster films. It was long shoots, difficult special effects, and
quality storytelling…without the benefit of sound (until later included).
Chaplin is a master of allowing his body to tell the story and convey emotion.
The film simply couldn’t have been done by anyone else. Georgia Hale seems
right at place as the female lead, to the point that Lita Grey in the role
doesn’t quite measure up.
The article also brings the
Gold Rush’s story to the forefront of my mind. Without all the
complications the film faced, making a good movie by any means is hard. Making
a great one that touches down on the thought provoking themes is even harder.
4) Write a critical analysis of the
film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening,
class discussions, text material and the article. I am less interested in whether you liked or
disliked a film, (although that can be part of this) than I am in your
understanding of its place in film history or the contributions of the director.
It set a gold standard for classic film making, blurring the
lines between comedy and thought provoking drama. It allowed for a new age in
special effects, and set the tone for circular story structure. The Gold Rush was showed the world that
a comedy can be more than simple slapstick. It was poignant, artistic and both
a critical and financial success.
I appreciated the film and am glad for the opportunity to
view a film I would have overlooked otherwise. Everyone should be so lucky as to say that they have seen the
Gold Rush.
Plagiarism Statement: Attach this statement to the end of each
journal assignment. CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
Name: Benjamin F. M. Novoa
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
Name: Benjamin F. M. Novoa
Date: 2/11/2013
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