The Gold Rush (1925)

The Gold Rush (1925)

7/10

Starring
Charlie Chaplin


Director Charlie Chaplin

The Gold Rush is known as the movie that Charlie Chaplin said he would love to be remembered for. It’s funny, exciting, and a joy to watch. The script and screenplay are as creative as they come, which is no surprise—it’s pure Charlie Chaplin style, making you laugh all the way through. My favorite scene is where the house is hanging on a cliff, with the Lone Prospector and Big Jim trapped inside. The movie boasts amazing screenplay, and that specific scene is a standout. The movie’s greatest strength is simple comedy is best. The visual comedy from the movie makes it easy for this movie to be viewed anytime.

Chaplin’s movies have received numerous recognitions for their work and appeal, and this one is no exception. It earned an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Recording, even though it’s a silent film. In 1942, Chaplin re-released the movie, adding a musical score and narration that he recorded himself. The original version, however, was a silent film made in 1925.

The movie’s plot follows a character named the Lone Prospector (Charlie Chaplin), whose desire to venture into Alaska to search for gold leads him on a path of adventure. Along the way, he discovers gold and falls in love. During his journey, he meets Big Jim McKay and Black Larsen. A storm traps all three in a cabin, setting the stage for chaos.

While trapped in the cabin, they run out of food. Larsen goes out to search for some, but when he doesn’t return in time, a hungry Big Jim nearly eats the Lone Prospector. After the storm, Big Jim unfortunately loses his memory after battling Larsen, while the Lone Prospector heads into town and falls in love with a girl named Georgia, whom he meets at a saloon.

Although The Gold Rush is fun and a great movie to watch, it’s not as outstanding as City Lights, which came out six years later. Still, The Gold Rush was a box office success, earning over $4 million—more than four times its production cost. It’s featured in the AFI’s 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition), where it’s ranked 58th, and it’s also listed as the 25th funniest movie in AFI’s 100 Years... 100 Laughs.

Charlie Chaplin was a wonderful actor, director, writer, and producer, and this film is just as much a classic as his others. The Gold Rush is fun to watch, and you’ll find yourself laughing all the way through.