The Gold Rush (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

One of the great masterpieces of cinema. It may seem clichéd and old hat but Charlie Chaplin invented the hat. That is he invented so many of the techniques and conventions of cinema we forget that in our modern age

The Criterion Collection's remastered The Gold Rush (1925) is undoubtedly the Charlie Chaplin release of 2012. For years, the prevailing critical consensus was that Gold Rush was Chaplin's feature film masterpiece. However, a newer generation of critics have since argued that honor should go instead to City Lights (1931). The Gold Rush receives criticism for its episodic structure; however, all of Chaplin's features, including City Lights, are episodic to a degree. This is not necessarily a bad thing, making that a moot critique.The Criterion Collection release features the 1925 original, along with the 1942 re-edit that omitted the intertitles in favor of narration (by Chaplin) and economically trimmed down of some excess plot developments. While the 1942 version does look better and the editing is better paced, Chaplin's voice-over actually dates the film far worse than the silent original.Chaplin had a voice which carried well into the sound era. He intuitively knew that silent film was a different art form, however. Thinking about marketing, he seemed to have forgotten that fact. The 1942 version illustrates the artist's discomfort with sound. Chaplin never could wrap his art around the new sound medium, and he pointlessly tells us what we are already seeing. Some may prefer the 1942 version, but my concentration will be on the superior, original version that audiences of 1925 saw.While The Gold Rush exhibits Chaplin's characteristic pathos, here it is far better balanced with his brand of comedy than any of his other features (when the pathos, often, nearly soaked the films).Chaplin's increasing need for audience sympathy marred may of his later features. Here, he keeps that need in check, and all for the better. Chaplin's Mutual shorts are considered by many (including Chaplin) to be his best work. One of the reasons for that is the presence of his best nemesis in Eric Campbell. But, when Campbell was killed in an automobile accident in 1917, Chaplin was left without a great heavy. His first feature film, The Kid (1921) was able to bypass that. For this, Chaplin's second Tramp feature, two villains were needed: the bonafide villain Black Larson (Tom Murray) and reformed villain Big Jim McCay (Mack Swain). While neither Swain nor Murray could replace Campbell, they were aptly cast and give the film needed tension.The Gold Rush`s most discussed scene is the dance of the dinner rolls, often imitated (and usually badly--Chaplin was a master at utilizing props for something other than their intended use). What may be the most compelling scene, however, is the surreal chicken hallucination. Everyone has seen this scene spoofed in countless Looney Tune shorts. The starving villain (Swain) imagines his buddy (Chaplin) to be a walking meal (in this case, a plump chicken). Chaplin's shoe-eating scene (complete with shoe laces substituting for noodles) and the rocking house at the edge of the cliff are additional surreal vignettes.While Chaplin was never a Surrealist, many of his films contained surreal vignettes. The Kid had the dream of heaven, Sunnyside (1919) has the Tramp frolicking in a ballet with hill nymphs. Perhaps it was Chaplin's occasional, natural elements of Surrealism which endeared him to the movements luminaries, such as André Breton. Next to Harry Langdon and Buster Keaton, Chaplin was the filmmaker most cited by the Surrealists.As The Gold Rush progresses, hunger, the struggle for survival, and harsh elements give way to a soapy romance with the dance hall girl Georgia (Georgia Hale). Chaplin had originally cast 15 year-old Lita Grey in the role, but his getting her pregnant necessitated a new lead actress. While Chaplin does milk sympathy as a rejected lover, he never does it (here) at the expense of the film's comedic tone.As to be expected, the Criterion extras are abundant: both film versions, a 15 minute short (Presenting The Gold Rush), audio commentary, booklet, a look at Chaplin the composer, and James Agee's famous 1942 review of the film.*my review originally appeared at 366 weird movies

Chaplin may not have been worth admiring in real life in the least, but his films hold up even a century later. The Gold Rush is the first Chaplin movie I saw and is still my favorite. I am not a huge fan of slapstick comedy, but maybe that is because few can carry it off as well as Chaplin. From the creativity of shoelace spaghetti, to the clumsiness of accidentally tying himself to a dog during a dance, to the physical humor in the cabin on a cliff scene, Chaplin managed to captivate audiences in the silent film era and even a college-aged woman in the 21st century. I sometimes mute the music during scenes like "the dance hall" when it becomes too repetitive, but overall the film score is very well done, also. If you've never seen a Chaplin movie, this is a good choice with which to begin.

My title says it all. I never get tired of watching "The Gold Rush." Charlie's brilliance shows in every scene - and it's a great story, as well.

This movie is wonderful and hilarious in both the 1942 version and the 1925 version. However, if you want to watch it in all it's glory watch the 1925 version. For this reason and this reason only: The movement of the character coincides with the story. For example: In the 1925 version Georgia does not write the letter for the tramp but for Jack. Jack does not care for the letter and decides to trick the tramp into believing it was meant for him. So when the tramp starts giving Georgia a heartfelt monologue of his love for her and how he completely understands her sentiments Georgia has an expression of confusion. She doesn't know what he's talking about, and you can tell by the way she looks. But in the 1942 version they make it look like the tramp was the one intended to receive the letter in the first place. So when he gives his heartfelt monologue to Georgia her expression of confusion does not make sense. She would surely be hugging him back and have an expression of love, not one of confusion. There's also the bit where they are trapped in the Cabin at the end and they are wondering why they feel like they are rocking back and forth. The tramp claims it's the stomach first, then when they feel the house rocking again and they try jumping up and down to see if it is indeed the house the tramp makes an expression as if to say "it must be the stomach, there's no other explanation" But in the 1942 version this part is shown with Charlie in the background saying "It isn't the stomach" Which again does not make sense with the movement of the character. So yeah watch the 1925 version for the correct experience. And the best one. 1942 is good, but not the correct way to watch it.

Charles Chaplin rises above all other comedians!

Criterion does great work and the Blu-ray is beautiful. Like some other's I prefer the original 1925 version and score. The picture and editing of the 1942 version is better but the narration makes it kind of hokey. I have dozens of silent movies and just feels wrong to watch a movie of this era with out inter titles much less narration. Both scores are good but the original works so much better in my opinion. Which ever version you like the new criterion Blu-ray has both so everyone wins. Love Chaplin! Although, I may be as big or bigger Buster Keaton fan....

Product was received in good condition!!

Oh, bring back the b/w silent movies! So funny, and typically Chaplinesque, with The Gold Rush being the cream. You get two versions of this classic film, the 1925 restored version with added pianist (if you don't like sound just turn down the volume) and the later one released and edited, with Charlie Chaplin himself speaking the words we didn't hear first time around. Personally I prefer the earlier one.Who can ever forget the chicken scene, this is the one that has stayed in my mind since I was a very young child in the 1950s/60s and sat with my parents roaring with laughter at his antics. That was the usual clip shown on TV at special times, mostly at Christmas and bank holidays with other excerpts from Disney films et al. You may like to know that Chaplin decided to play the part of the chicken. After several takes using another actor, he wasn't happy with it and said it just didn't look right.I decided to watch the whole film before wrapping it for my partner's birthday and I can honestly say it was a masterpiece. I didn't realise it was about an hour long with so much more than just the frozen hut in the middle of a blizzard.Can't wait to see my partner's face when he gets this on his birthday! An absolute gem and worth every penny!

Great DVD of one of Chaplin's Greatest films the gold rush. the dvd includes the two versions of the film. the original 1925 silent version and the 1942 version where Chaplin Re-edited the film with his own voice Narration and done several other edits. would highly recommend to any Chaplin Fan

A masterpiece as I rembered it. Good to have both editions - the silent one and the revisited one with the voice overs (1942). I loved it and also my young kids enjoyed, lughed and were moved by it. A masterpice to pass down to the next generations.

This film takes me back to my childhood. I can remember the first time I watched this film the cinema and everything about it. I find it really funny, let face it we don't have much to laugh about currently.

I've bought all of Charlie Chaplin films recently because I always liked him. Of all the Gold Rush is definitely the best that he made together with the Kid.