#615: CHAPLIN, Charles: The Gold Rush [1925/1942]

CHAPLIN, Charles (United States)

The Gold Rush [1925/1942]

Spine #615
Blu-ray

Charlie Chaplin's comedic masterwork — which charts a prospector's search for fortune in the Klondike and his discovery of romance (with the beautiful Georgia Hale) — forever cemented the iconic status of Chaplin and his Little Tramp character. Shot partly on location in the Sierra Nevadas and featuring such timeless gags as the dance of the dinner rolls and the meal of boiled shoe leather, The Gold Rush is an indelible work of heartwarming hilarity. This special edition features both Chaplin's definitive 1942 version, for which the director added new music and narration, and a new restoration of the original 1925 silent film.

1925 Version

88 minutes

Silent

1942 Version

72 minutes

Black & White
Monaural

1:33:1 aspect ratio

Criterion 2012

Director/Writer

Charles Chaplin was 36 when he wrote and directed The Gold Rush; 52 when he rereleased it in 1942.

Read about his life and career here.

Other films by Chaplin in the Collection:

#799: The Kid (1921/1972)
#1253: A Woman of Paris (1923)

#996: The Circus (1928/1969)

#680: City Lights (1931)

#543: Modern Times (1936)

#565: The Great Dictator (1940)

#652: Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

#756: Limelight (1952)

The Film

Ah, but which film?

The year is 1942, World War II is raging, and there is no such thing as a “revival house” where one could go and watch silent films from decades ago.

For those who could still recall having seen The Gold Rush in 1925, the celluloid could only have been a memory. Chaplin — who made two great silent films after the advent of the sound era (City Lights [1931] and Modern Times [1936]) — would not make a talkie until 1940 (The Great Dictator).

So it makes complete sense that he would remake the ‘25 version with music and narration.

Choose your version — they’re both terrific.

Have fun spotting the differences between the two versions. For example, in the ‘25 version, Georgia’s handwritten note sports the line “I love you.” She sends it to Jack (“the ladies’ man”), who then sends it the Tramp as a joke. The ‘42 version features an entirely different note.

The ending of the ‘25 version is also different than the ‘42 version. [see commentary notes, below] ...

The famous “Dance of the Rolls” was stolen from a 1917 Fatty Arbuckle two-reeler: The Rough House. “Stolen” — yes — but Arbuckle does it for just a few seconds; Chaplin turned it into a classic, unforgettable bit.

Nit: Look at the Tramp taking the knife off the table and hiding it under his bed at 22:24. At 22:44 the knife reappears on the table.

Film Rating (0-60):

55

The Extras

The Booklet

Twenty-four page booklet featuring an essay by critic Luc Sante and James Agee's review of the 1942 rerelease.

“The Tramp — small, innocent, beleaguered, romantic, oblivious, resourceful, idealistic — lives inside everyone, but Charlie Chaplin made him manifest, with humor that is never cruel, never aggressive, and always speaks to our best selves.” — Luc Sante

Digital restoration

New high-definition digital restoration of the 1942 sound version, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack

Digital transfer

New 2K digital transfer of the reconstructed original 1925 silent film, restored in collaboration with the Cineteca di Bologna, with a newly recorded adptation of director Chaplin's score, presented in 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio

Commentary

for the 1925 version by Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance

Splendid commentary by a real Chaplin expert. Interesting take on why Chaplin changed the ending in 1942 ...

Three new programs

1. Presenting "The Gold Rush," which traces the film's history and features filmmaker Kevin Brownlow and Vance;
2. A Time of Innovation: Visual Effects in "The Gold Rush," featuring effects specialist Craig Barron and Chaplin cinematographer Roland Totheroh; and
3. Music by Charles Chaplin, featuring conductor and composer Timothy Brock

Documentary

Chaplin Today: "The Gold Rush" (2002), a short documentary featuring filmmaker Idrissa Ouédraogo.

• Ouédraogo’s love of Chaplin — and a scene of some school kids from Burkina Faso watching The Gold Rush — and laughing at the universal humor ...
• George Hale (1980):
• “He could make anyone do a thing ... he did it — he felt it ... he really did it himself, he acted himself. He acted the scene out for you, including every flicker of the eye. He just felt it ... gave it to you, and instilled it into you, so that you just had to give a terrific performance.”

Four trailers

From US, France, Germany, and the Netherlands ...

Extras Rating (0-40):

36

55 + 36 =

91

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