The Gold Rush

The Gold Rush

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

In class, we discussed the different characteristics in Chaplin films which has helped giving us an idea of what type of film that we were going to see in class. For the time period that his movies were in, they were perfect and it can be said that those movies are still good for the audience today. We have learned that Chaplin uses comedy when speaking of the social issues that we were facing: hunger, crime, and poverty.

In the Gold Rush, we can see those issues throughout the film. For an example, Crime: Black Larsen is running from the law and hiding out in the cabin. Another example is using the tramp character who is usually in need of food as she is hungry which falls under the social issue of hunger; also when Black Larsen, the lone prospector (Charles Chaplin), and Big Jim McKay ran out of food in the cabin. They use comedy in the particular hunger situation by cooking the shoe, the lone prospector hiding the dog thinking he/she might get eaten. These are only a few way where comedy was used to discuss social issues.

2) Find a related article and summarize content. 

http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/biography/articles/5-The-Gold-Rush

In this article, it discusses how Charlie Chaplin came up with the idea of The Gold Rush and he was inspired first as he was “viewing some stereoscope pictures of the Klondike gold rush, and was particularly struck by the image of an endless line of prospectors snaking up the Chilkoot Pass” (biography). He wanted to change the tragedy from being horror to something comedy. The article also discusses the relationship between Chaplin and the original leading lady who he ended up having an affair with and she ends up getting pregnant which “forced” them to get married. After three months of taking time off from the Gold Rush, they decided to find another leading lady to take place of Lillita and that’s how Georgia came about.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

When I learned that Georgia was not the original leading lady made me think about the possibilities of how the film could have changed. Would it have been better? Worse? I know, one person doesn’t make the whole film but it can make a small difference as chemistry would be in question. How would the original character portray the tramp character? Also reading the rest of the article, they discuss at how when Big Jim “sees” the lone prospector as a chicken, it was a triumph for the cameraman and Chaplin.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when watching the film. It was my first time watching a full silent movie. When we discussed in class about what the movie was about and it being a comedy, I wasn’t completely sure that I would be able to see the comedy come out through the characters as it was silent. But my mind changed when the movie started and while we were watching the movie. I noticed the different camera angles. Some were focused in one area while in other parts, we can see movement from side to side following the characters. I was also able to see the comedy throughout the characters, especially when in the cabin – the lone prospector changes into a chicken in the eyes of Big Jim, the lone prospector searches for the dog hoping Big Jim didn’t eat him, etc. I have to say I enjoyed watching the film and laughed at parts of the movie (especially the part when he was dancing with the tramp and got caught up with the dog). Overall, I enjoyed the film and I’m glad that we had the opportunity to watch it.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.