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The Gold Rush

The Gold Rush

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: "Fate guided them to a spot where all was calm."
Review: Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush" is a mixed bag. The film itself is uneven as it is entertaining for certain stretches and just adequate in others. Yet the general public as a whole still owe it a measure of thanks for its contribution of the wonderful "dancing bread rolls" sequence to cinema lore. Playing with one's food was never so visually amusing.

The Tramp (Chaplin) tries his luck at prospecting for gold but finds himself being harassed by the nasty weather, a criminal on the loose named Black Larson (Tom Murray), and a desperate and hungry man named Big Jim McKay (Mack Swain). Failing to strike it rich despite his best efforts, The Tramp treks to a nearby village to start over. A village woman named Georgia (Georgia Hale) catches his eye and soon The Tramp is using all the resources at his disposal to prepare a memorable New Year's Eve dinner for her.

In the pantheon of Chaplin works, "The Gold Rush" ranks behind "City Lights" (1931), and "The Great Dictator" (1940), and is generally on par with "Modern Times" (1936). In other words, this film is a serviceable Chaplin vehicle but nothing more than that. The silent comedian is his usual charming self from the moment he first appears and he marvelously displays that impeccable comic timing that made him so great at physical comedy in every routine he finds himself in. But "The Gold Rush" flounders because the material he is working with this time around is not that strong. The pathos and social relevance that define Chaplin's better efforts are in shorter supply here and the film suffers for it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "We Shall Be Millionaires!"-Prospector Big Jim
Review: Charlie Chaplin, 'the little fellow', in this movie, backpacks into the wilderness of Alaska in search of gold. He shacks up with two other grizzly fellows, Black Larsen and Big Jim McKay high up in the mountains. Friends are scarce, except for a few four-legged, furry ones and so is food. Thanksgiving fare consists of boiled shoe with a side of shoe strings. After so many days without food, Big Jim starts hallucinating and sees a gigantic, walking chicken in their cabin without wondering where has 'the little fellow' gone. Luckily for Charlie, a four legged critter soon walks through the door. Such is the life of lone prospectors. 'The little fellow' later ventures down into the valley and discovers Georgia, a dance hall girl, in the mining town.

The second disc contains the original silent film made in 1925; the first disc has the 1942 version which Charlie Chaplin narrates. The second disc also explains how and where the movie was made and what gave Charlie Chaplin the inspiration to make it. Neither disc explains how they managed to get a black bear to follow Charlie in one of the opening scenes of the film-that's what I'd like to know! If you need a good laugh, The Gold Rush will give you the giggles. I love this movie! I have yet to see a bad Charlie Chaplin film. I'm not sure which one's my favorite-I love them all!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This DVD is pure garbage. I plan to use it as a coaster.
Review: Don't waste your money on this one. The transfer is so bad that it is virtually unwatchable. This movie is a classic and it is just a shame that the producers of this DVD obviously have no respect for it. This is the last time I buy anything from this company.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Great Film, Horrible transfer to DVD
Review: Gold Rush is a one of the best movies ever so unless you really dislike silent movies, it's a must see. Anyway, all my complaining that follows has to do with the this particular transfer to DVD. The DVD is simply awful. Don't get it. The contrast is so messed up that almost everything in the picture is either completely black or completely white. Needless to say, a lot of information is lost. A while ago I have seen a cleaned up version of the film that was excellent so I know that it makes sense to wait for someone to do better job of transfer to DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Gold Rush
Review: Gold Rush is one of Charlie Chaplin's legendary films about the Tramp who seeks fortune and a better life in Klondike, Alaska, during the gold rush. In his quest for fortune he encounters several questionable characters which often lead to comic situations. Underneath the comedy there is a serious undertone of struggle for happiness and prosperity where the Tramp becomes easy prey as he helps those in need. However, through his kindness he ends up being hurt in several ways. Throughout the film, Chaplin conveys his messages with comedy that makes it easier to look at the hardships the Tramp encounters, and through this comedy he teaches the audience valuable morals. Overall, Gold Rush offers a brilliant cinematic experience that offers something for everybody.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Tramps Suffering is eased with Brilliant Comedy...
Review: Gold Rush is one of Charlie Chaplin's legendary films about the Tramp who seeks fortune and a better life in Klondike, Alaska, during the gold rush. In his quest for fortune he encounters several questionable characters which often lead to comic situations. Underneath the comedy there is a serious undertone of struggle for happiness and prosperity where the Tramp becomes easy prey as he helps those in need. However, through his kindness he ends up being hurt in several ways. Throughout the film, Chaplin conveys his messages with comedy that makes it easier to look at the hardships the Tramp encounters, and through this comedy he teaches the audience valuable morals. Overall, Gold Rush offers a brilliant cinematic experience that offers something for everybody.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: not the best chaplin, but still good
Review: Gold Rush may not be Chaplin's best movie but the movie helps to showcase his talents as an actor and director. His talent took a while to develop, as can be seen in movies like Great Dictator and City Lights but Gold Rush helps to show where Chaplin started of from.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Gold Rush
Review: I agree with one of the reviews above. Go right to the second disc and see the film as it originally appeared. Fantastic! (The first disc with the narration is very nice, but the narration is totally unnecessary). The film still holds up beautifully and the prints of this whole collection are amazing. Particulary if you've never seen this film, the best one to watch is the second disc original release. You won't be sorry!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wrong version, Image DVD!
Review: I cannot agree more with "A viewer from Dallas, TX" -- this 1942 version lessens the whole "Gold Rush" experience, even though the video quality is astounding. Having just watched "The Kid" and "City Lights", I found the commentary on this version most annoying and distracting from Chaplin's fantastic pantomime. While in the other films one becomes engrossed in the visual elements, in this version of the film it is impossible to become fully involved, as the commentary actually distances you from what is going on. It would be such a grave mistake if this version would be the only one available for today's audiences, so I urge and plead: Image, please release the original 1925 version on DVD too, please!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wrong version, Image DVD!
Review: I cannot agree more with "A viewer from Dallas, TX" -- this 1942 version lessens the whole "Gold Rush" experience, even though the video quality is astounding. Having just watched "The Kid" and "City Lights", I found the commentary on this version most annoying and distracting from Chaplin's fantastic pantomime. While in the other films one becomes engrossed in the visual elements, in this version of the film it is impossible to become fully involved, as the commentary actually distances you from what is going on. It would be such a grave mistake if this version would be the only one available for today's audiences, so I urge and plead: Image, please release the original 1925 version on DVD too, please!


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