Tuesday 23 August 2016

The Gold Rush - Film Review

Growing up I was brought up on a diet of silent movies and today you just don’t see them on TV. The kids today are missing classic slapstick comedy from the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and later Laurel and Hardy.

This morning I re-watched Charlie Chaplin's classic "The Gold Rush" arguably his finest film. He stars as a wimpy prospector who decides to go to the Klondike hoping of striking it rich. Like all great movies, The Gold Rush has more than its share of memorable moments, from the Thanksgiving dinner to the dance of the dinner rolls to the cabin teetering on the edge of the mountain. The shoe for dinner after which his companion, Big Jim McKay (Mack Swain) is so hungry that he believes Chaplin to be a chicken and before long, a bear enters their cabin soon they are eating well. In the midst of it all, the prospector falls in love with dancer Georgia (Georgia Hale).

Everything ends well with Chaplin and Big Jim they strike it big and are now millionaires. They leave on board a ship in first class. Asked by some photographers would he dress as old poor prospector self he obliges them. At the same time, Georgia who is on board overhears some of the crew talking of a stowaway and on seeing, Chaplin tries to hide him not knowing he is rich and the love is still there.

The movie is exceptional in every way. I would still probably call "The Gold Rush" one of the finest films ever. Oh how the cinema misses Charles Chaplin today.

My Rating

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