The Gold Rush (1925)

Once again I will say how enjoyable the 1001 Movie Club has been (pat myself on the back for starting it).  Prior to beginning this club I usually strayed away from most films that were older than the 1980's.  Strangely enough I've always been a huge fan of old black and white television shows, but have never felt the same way when it comes to film.  But this club has given me the extra push I needed to explore recently unexplored eras in film that I would normally stray away from.

In terms of old films you can't get much older than the silent era, an era I've never ventured into before until recently, and while I can honestly say I don't find these films that entertaining, I can appreciate them for what they are and how they were the progressive moment of the film industry.  I chose Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush, for two simple reasons; one I have never actually sat down and watched an entire Chaplin film, and two The Gold Rush is not only one of the most acclaimed silent pictures of the 1920's but it's also regarded as one of the best films of all-time.  You'd be hard pressed not to find it on a critics list of the best films ever. 

It probably goes without saying Chaplin was the catalyst for the physical comedy, work that would later lead to the comedy team of Laural and Hardy and the Three Stooges.  Chaplin also didn't seem to worry about being typecast, as almost every actor does today, in fact Chaplin relied on his sole signature character of The Tramp most of his career.  Ironically most of Chaplin's most regarded work happened to be his last.  Out of the last ten films he appeared in, which range from the 1925 - 1967, four of those are on IMDb.com's Top 250, and three of them are in the Top 100.  The Gold Rush is the lowest ranked among the four, and features Chaplin as a "lone prospector" but really he's simply playing his signature role of The Tramp, which is what his character is referred to in the film.  The film surrounds Chaplin attempting to survive the rugged wilderness of Alaska at the peak of the gold rush.  He must withstand storms, hunger, and maybe most painful of all love.

The Gold Rush is a nice balanced mix of comedy, drama and romance, although comedy is the main focus and usually works it's way into the dramatic and romantic elements as well.  What make silent films like this bearable is the acting.  When there is no speech or sound it's physical style, presence and emotion that gets the message across, and it's those aspects that Chaplin was definitely the master.  While The Gold Rush hasn't turned me into a silent film fan, and I doubt I'll watch anymore of them with regularity it's hard to not recognize the achievements of this film, this essentially was top notch for 1925, and even today some of the film's special effects hold up remarkably well.  So for that, Chaplin's performance and some great scenes which include feasting on a the boot, and the shack on the edge of the cliff make The Gold Rush worth a look.

8/10