The Gold Rush: Charlie Chaplin
The Gold Rush (1925) is considered as Charles Chaplin’s masterpiece. He has been famous since 1915 and his film started to space out because his old fashioned style. Also, his well known work are City Lights and Modern Time. The plot is about a lonely prospector ventures into Alaska. He has to survive by himself with another fellow “Big Jim” and he falls in love with a beautiful girl. Trying to win her heart by his charm. In the opening scene, with his cane, he’s walking on a snow covered path, unaware that he’s being followed by a bear. Chaplin doesn’t need any techniques in his film. He acted by himself. His acting is surreal, it’s more like a comedy. Talking about classic scene in this film is the starvation scene when Big Jim and Tramp celebrates thanks giving and there’s no food left anymore. Therefore, Chaplin gonna cook for Big Jim by choosing his shabby shoe to boil and make a feast of it. Chaplin twirls the laces like eating spaghetti. After look at Chaplin, Big Jim decides to give it a try.
Another day comes and still no food for Big Jim and the Tramp. Big Jim gets really hungry. He thinks Chaplin is a chicken so he tries to kill Chaplin. They fight! The bear accidentally comes in the house. Big Jim kills the bear and eats it. Another famous scene is when Chaplin waits for a girl who never comes. He’s doing the bread dancing. As you can see, Chaplin usually play with the gags…using simple things to make it unreal. The theme of the movie is about love, feminine, male friendship and social class (Being friends with rich people only when he’s drunk). He falls for a girl who belongs to a wealthy man…trying every silly possible ways to win her love. The ending of The Gold Rush is when Big Jim calls Chaplin that he finds a fortune of gold and becomes billionaire. Fate brings Chaplin to see the girl again but it’s not about money anymore. It’s about love. Chaplin’s character is brave, unaware of danger and even put himself to danger, being creative within small space. Chaplin’s film was launched again in 1942 with added sub narration and music. Both spoken and composed by himself.
