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I fell in love with Chaplin films when I was ten years old in 1984, my brother was a classic movie collector and left his collection when he went off to college. I spent months watching Chaplin over and over. It was amazing and the beginning of my love of movies. It was a joy watching with you guys see Chaplin for the first time. Watch The Gold Rush next, an incredible masterpiece.
That rough dance is called an "apache", pronounced "Ah-PASH". It was a popular kind of specialized dance from the 1920s from Paris. It got a lot of play over the decades, and takes a LOT of skill.
When this film was released, 1931, sound films were the norm. But Chaplin wanted to keep the tramp silent. But he did add sound effects and music. So it's like a silent sound film. He didn't make a full on sound film until The Great Dictator released in 1940. His last film that he starred in, A King in New York, was released in the mid 50's.
Technically, this was a "sound on film" silent. It was made at 24 frames per second so that a sound track of the orchestra and sound effects (gun shots, whistles, etc.) could be added. I heartily disagree that movies of this time period were not "art." City Lights has a great deal of nuance that is easily missed on first viewing. If you think silent movies were not great art, I suggest you watch, "Greed," "Wings," "The Big Parade," the silent version of "Ben Hur," and many others.
Hey Shaun (Shawn? Sean?) and Nate! So happy to see you both enjoying and appreciating this silent gem. And since you mentioned Buster Keaton, have you watched his 1928 silent Steamboat Bill, Jr? Buster Keaton was an incredibly athletic acrobat, physical comic and actor. This film is known for what may be his most famous stunt. Plus so many site gags you'll be saying "Wait, what just happened?!!" and "How'd they do that?" Please put Buster on your watch list.
I discovered Keaton through that movie. I was home sick from school with pinkeye, yuck, and stumbled right into the "hats" scene while channel surfing. Immediately enthralled, and a fan to this day.
You guys have done a great job with the classic movies. I have one you need to see for Halloween - Arsenic and Old Lace. It's a great, great movie that takes place on Halloween.
The "hole" in the sidewalk was for deliveries. It had an elevator platform so things could be delivered directly into basement storage rooms. Other good early movies with star studded casts are Dinner at Eight, and Grand Hotel.
He didn't want his character to talk even when most movies where already talking, he thougth that would "kill" the little tramp, so when he finally did it, it was for the best possible reason: fighting fascism in The Great Dictator. And there was deep and sad movies back then, Broken Blossoms is one of my favourites, with the amazing Lillian Guish. And you should watch some Douglas Fairbanks movie someday (The mark of the Zorro is my favourite), no stunts, no cgi, just him and his insane physical skills.
I love Broken Blossoms. Gish was still recovering from a serious bout of influenza when they started filming, so she looked even more fragile and ethereal than usual.
A great suggestion, JM63! I have never seen a reaction to a Chaplin movie on YT, would love to see more of this. I had a big Chaplin phase when I was younger, his short films were really funny as well.
If you would like to hear what Chaplin sounded like as the Little Tramp, watch his movie "Modern Times" (1935). "Modern Times" was the last time that Chaplin played the character of the Little Tramp, a role that he played since 1915. Chaplin realized that every viewer would have an idea of how he or she believed the Tramp would sound like, and he would disappoint many of them when they heard him spoke. He did compromise and allowed the Tramp to sing. Yes, watch more of Chaplin! I'd love to see your reactions to Chaplin's "The Gold Rush."
The same sidewalk "hole" can be seen in Safety Last from 1923 with Harold Lloyd. These were common at the time. It's an easy way for shops to deliver merchandise to the basement storage area.
You would love The Gold Rush from 1925, also Modern Times, much of The Great Dictator (the final hysterical homily is a bit much), and parts of Monsieur Verdoux (tho that one luxuriates in its own cynicism).
Chaplin's speaking voice was very refined with an elegant, upper class British accent. Personally, I love the sound of his voice. My favorite of his sound films is the very dark "Monsieur Verdoux" from 1947. Btw, Chaplin wrote the music for all of his films. He also wrote the classic songs "Smile" and "Kiss Me Goodbye" among others.
Your patrons are a good lot. These classics are just barely kept alive in modern pop culture. Even in academia, there's a tendency to skip past the silent era. Which is a shame. Thanks for doing this lads.
The original actress that was to play the part was replaced. I believe Charlie Chaplin had done most of the movie, well, they re-shot all the scenes with her to replace her with this actress.
I can only hope the sound quality was better in the room. On our end it sounds awful. While much of it is scripted, some things are added and improvised during filming. In fact, this film is noted for one scene taking particularly long to shoot because Chaplin couldn't crack one key element of the plot. Mr. Noodle, on Sesame Street, is actor and mime Bill Erwin, who, Im sure, would admit to being inspired by Chaplin, among others. The millionaire was knocked out with what was known as a blackjack - or a sap. It was a narrow leather pouch filled with buckshot, that could render you unconscious.
Here's Chaplin talking in a later movie, "Monsieur Verdoux": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rFHXLQlPUpo.html - not quite what you'd think! And here's a short on Chaplin's counterpart, the equally but differently talented Buster Keaton: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UWEjxkkB8Xs.html And third in the triad of Silent Greats, Harold Lloyd: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-L76e1wt8dEI.html
Congratulations...this is one of the greatest movies ever made. Unfortunately only one of you is in tune with it. I hope it hits the reactor circuit. I've been watching it since the '50s and I'm still laughing.
Two suggestions for landmark silent films for either pleasure watching or reaction: Nosferatu, the original vampire horror film; and Metropolis, the granddaddy of science fiction.
