The Gold Rush

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening. In class we have discussed many different highlights of the popular movie star, Charlie Chaplin. After going over some of his material, I was anxious to watch some of his work. It was interesting to see many of the things we had discussed in class on the screen. It was hard, at first, for me to adjust to the fact that the only audio in movies from this era came from edited background music. However, once the movie begins to take off, you forget about words and start to understand the expression that is used in movies like Gold Rush. Due to the lack of audio technology around the time this movie was made, words, actions, and emotions had to be portrayed in a different way for the audience. Sometimes the mannerisms could be a bit much, but I understood why they were that way and it is respected more. Even with these differences to modern-day movies, you have to respect the fact that the themes and emotions are understood just as clearly as if they were spoken today. Using camera tricks like blacking out all surrounding visuals in the frame except for one area, helps the audience focus on a particular point as much as zooming in would today.

 2) Find a related article and summarize the content. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/5779/The-Gold-Rush/articles.html In this article, TCM (Turner Classic Movies) wrote a very accurate review of Charlie Chaplin's classic, The Gold Rush. In this review, Felicia Feaster discusses the plot and various scenes in the movie. Even more interesting about this article are the factual and informative tid-bits that are dropped about the movie and it's making. One tid-bit I found interesting was the fact that they had initially planned to use the little girl from Chaplin's previous film "The Kid" as the lovely ball room girl, Georgia. However, Chaplin got the 16-year-old girl pregnant and had to go with other plans.

 3) Apply the article to the film screened in class. After watching the film and then reading this article, it helps me get a better feel for the movie, hearing a different take on the movie other than my own. Knowing what transpired through the course of making this film in 1925 makes me appreciate and respect this work of art a bit more.

 4) Write a critical analysis of the film In the film The Gold Rush, Chaplin gives us story about a nonsensical tramp in Nevada trying to win over a woman's affection. From the moment the movie started, eyes were glued to the screen and laughter ensued. Chaplin delivers us comedy gold for all ages. Not only did this film set the bar for all other comedies, the film was very well shot. When I stop and think about all of the media we take in on a day-to-day basis and all the advanced technology involved in films today, you cannot help, but to respect Chaplin's ability to convey such emotion, humor, and even deep themes in this movie. The themes in The Gold Rush range from rejection; to cannibalism; to even humiliation. Even the ending has a bit of a twist, where we know that although the Tramp has all the money in the world now, he still had not found love. As the audience, we can understand what he is going through and when he and Georgia finally unite, we are so emotionally invested in this story, that can't help but feel a profound sense of satisfaction. Chaplin's The Gold Rush offers all of these different elements and it only came out in 1925! Regardless of whether one likes or dislikes this movie, I feel that it is impossible for anyone to not to have respect for Charlie Chaplin and the impact his films, such as The Gold Rush, had and will always have on the film industry.