Gold Rush

The poster for The Gold Rush

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

The Film The Gold Rush starring Charlie Chaplin tells the story of a loveable tramp looking for gold and love in Alaska during the Alaskan gold rush. The film, for its time period, was very complex and hade many different themes. During the screening of the film one could see how Chaplin developed the story and characters so that they were not just one note. The main character played by Chaplin is the loveable tramp, and the viewer can see that he is meant to be sympathized with and the audience will want him to succeed. One of the major themes that was discussed in class and was very prominent in the film was the theme of poverty. The viewer of the film could clearly see that Chaplin’s tramp character was in a desperate state of poverty by his clothes and desperation to move to Alaska in search of riches to have a better life.  

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content

http://www.popmatters.com/review/196257-the-films-of-charlie-chaplin-the-kid-the-gold-rush-the-circus/

The iconic dinner roll dance

The article that I found in relation to the film The Gold Rush describes the re-releases of some of Chaplin’s greatest work. The article talks about the about how Chaplin became an icon for his role as the lovable tramp in the films The Gold Rush, The Kid, and The Circus. The article summarized the three films and what made the character and Chaplin so lovable to the whole world. The article talks about how the films were a lengthy process for Chaplin to make because he was a perfectionist. The article also talks a little bit about Chaplin’s love life and how it affected him in the time period of making the films.  The article saying that these films still find joy with audiences today because Chaplin’s performance still provokes laughter from people of all ages with his pantomiming motions and expressive face.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class

The article supported my thoughts on the film. The film shows the complexity of Chaplin as a director, actor, writer and producer, and the article only supported those facts. This article tells how much work, not just acting and his comedic brilliance, Chaplin did on this film. Charlie Chaplin worked for over a year on this film because he wanted it to be the best that it could be. He spent so much time and effort on this film because he wanted it to be the one that he was remember the most for, and it is. This film has the iconic bread dance scene at the New Year’s Party dream sequence. The film and the article both support how hard of a worker Charlie Chaplin was and how much he changed the industry as a whole.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film

Chaplin as his lovable tramp character as seen in the film

The film The Gold Rush starring and directed by auteur Charlie Chaplin is a ground breaking film for film history. The film is timeless and can be watched by any and every one. It is timeless because it has themes that still are present in film today. The theme of poverty is present in this film as discussed earlier in this journal by the state of the tramp’s clothes and search for gold to have a better life. This film transcends time because the themes and characters are relatable. The tramp and Big Jim just want to have a chance at having money for a better life. Yes, these characters go to the extreme to get their chance at a better life, but there were people who actually went to Alaska in search of riches. This film is important to film history because Chaplin created character and story that does not need words. The actions of the actors tell the story to the audience without the need for language. The Gold Rush holds an important spot in film history because it used new techniques for the time period and made the audience feel for the characters without the use of words. Chaplin also holds an important place in film history because he was one of the first auteurs. He wanted the audience to feel something while watching this film. Chaplin very much achieved that with his acting abilities and facial expressions. All without the use of his voice.

Plagiarism Statement:  Attach this to the end of every journal assignment.

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.