The
Gold Rush was unlike any movie I have ever seen before. Charlie Chaplin was a great actor, in his own
way, and for the time period. His
character, a Lone Prospector, was awkward and not really socially
involved. Throughout the film, he tried
to “fit in” and make friends however difficult it may have been. Unlike other men at the time, Chaplin’s
character was not really interested in gold, wealth, or popularity. Upon meeting Georgia, the prospector did not
try to win her over with massive amounts of wealth or gold. He did not really try to impress her at all.
In fact, he did not have much of anything to impress her with except for his
witty charm. There is some significance
to The Gold Rush being a silent film. Chaplin’s character doesn’t really know how
to express himself through words, only by his actions do we get a sense of what
he is thinking or feeling. For example,
when the women asked him to give a speech during his dream, the prospector
instead entertains them by dancing the “oceana roll.” The women get a good laugh out of it; however
the scene is all a dream. The Lone Prospector
never really gets a chance to show who he really is. The women, and other residents of the town,
never get to really know who exactly the Lone Prospector is.
When Big Jim McKay enlists the Lone Prospector into
helping him re-find his gold, the prospector is hesitant. He is trying to get to Georgia in the dance
hall to show her that he too loves her.
However, this is not necessarily a true statement. The note that he received was actually not
for him. Again, he is not interested in
gold or wealth; he is more interested in forming a relationship with Georgia,
which she may or may not want. At the
end of the film, when Georgia offers to pay his fare (thinking he is the
stowaway) she doesn’t realize that he is extremely wealthy. Georgia came to love the Lone Prospector for
who he was as a person, not because he had, or did not have, a lot of money.
Money can’t buy everything. Maybe that
is why the prospector always seemed happier than the other characters. He
didn’t have the fanciest clothes, the best shoes or even a nice coat. But he did have a positive attitude and
outlook on life.
One of my favorite scenes was after the storm and
the cabin ended up balancing on the edge of a cliff. This scene was not only funny to watch, but
it was also a huge accomplishment filming wise.
The skill and the amount of time that it must have taken to accomplish
such a scene, with such fluidity, is amazing.
To be able to make it actually look like the cabin is balancing on the
edge of a cliff was a big task for the film directors and producers at that
time. In today’s society, with all the
special effects and computer editing software, this would not be that
hard. The Gold Rush truly defied gravity in creating this film.
--Rachel Kintner
GROUP THREE RESPONSE:
ReplyDeleteI agree that Chaplin’s character was different from the others. Chaplin is not dressed as the other men at the dance hall and not getting as much attention from Georgia as the other men. Chaplin’s original reason for coming to Alaska was gold, but he was not prepared, as we can see with his paper compass and lack of shelter, and I do think that it’s funny that Chaplin’s character, the Lone Prospector, is the least fit for striking gold, and he is the wealthiest at the end of the movie.
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ReplyDeleteIn your analysis above, I agree with the character description of The Lone Prospector. I think it was important to mention how he never had the nicest things, yet he was the happiest character in the entire film. I think that was Chaplin's intentions and the fact that the film was silent, made the plot even better. Although Chaplin was a very simple character, he had so many interesting qualities about him. For example, the scene where he is daydreaming about his perfect New Year’s Eve dinner with Georgia her friends. This scene is memorable because he does the "Oceana Roll" dance with the two French rolls and the forks. The scene is also comical because the rolls symbolize Chaplin’s boots; and as the camera is set on him doing the dance with his forks, Chaplin is smiling away as if he’s the happiest person in the world. Not only is the scene unforgettable but it’s also interpreted in movies today and before watching the film, I had no idea where it came from. You mentioned how Chaplin wasn’t like the other people in America at the time, searching for gold, popularity, and riches but yet at the end of the movie he ends up with all three. Chaplin, although not searching for any of these, ends up being one the luckiest characters of the film. I think it’s important to note that Chaplin didn’t care about money; the only thing he wanted was love with Georgia, even after he became a millionaire. Chaplin stayed true to himself the whole time and ended up with everything he dreamed of having and much more.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Chaplin’s character was different from the others. However, I don’t think that it was because Chaplin wasn’t interested in gold, wealth, or popularity. We have to remember that he must have been interested in gold and wealth because striking gold was the original reason for him coming to Alaska. I think he stood out because he was interested in those things, but it was harder for him along the way to achieve those goals, because he was so unfit and different. We can see with his paper compass at the beginning of the movie and lack of shelter against the weather. I do think that it’s funny that Chaplin’s character, the Lone Prospector, is the least prepared and he is the wealthiest at the end of the movie. It is easy to pick The Lone Prospector out of the crowd because of his looks and actions. For example, Chaplin is not dressed as the other men at the dance hall and not getting as much attention from Georgia as the other men.
ReplyDeleteThe scene at the end of the film when the cabin is balancing is very funny. I think that it is hard for someone in today’s society to look at that and think that that is an impressive feat to accomplish using special effects, but it is. We are so used to movies these days with crazy special effects that something like balancing the cabin seems like nothing special. We have to remember however, that this movie was produced in 1925, with much less technology.
-Caroline Downer