Shawn Hall During promotion for The Gold Rush, Charlie Chaplin declared it the film he wanted to be remembered by. A century later, it’s easy to see why.
Many of Chaplin’s most iconic gags, endlessly copied by generations of comedians, are packed into this one film. From the dinner roll dance to boiling and eating a shoe to the unforgettable cabin teetering on the edge of a cliff, The Gold Rush is a comedy landmark with as much heart as laughter-inducing jokes. Chaplin’s classic comedy was voted #6 on Silent Era’s Top 100 Silent Movies List, which I’m reviewing as part of a bi-weekly series sharing whether I agree with each film’s inclusion on the list.
The film stars Chaplin’s famous Tramp character as a lone prospector during the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush. Before he eventually strikes it rich, he faces the brutal cold, starvation, and some rough characters in the Alaskan wilderness. The story was inspired by actual Gold Rush photos and the grim tale of the Donner Party, who famously resorted to cannibalism and eating their own shoes to survive. Having grown up poor and hungry in England, Chaplin saw comic potential in these harsh conditions.
Chaplin faces the elements and rough company in The Gold Rush
Nowhere is that blend of hardship and humor clearer than in the famous shoe-eating scene. Snowed in with another prospector, Chaplin’s Tramp boils a leather shoe and serves with the delicacy and manners of high-society, dinner party host. He carefully serves the shoe on plates, twirls the shoelaces with his fork like spaghetti, and tries to hide his disgust as he slurps it down. In classic Chaplin fashion, it manages to be absurd, sad, and hilarious all at once.
With Chaplin as the heart of The Gold Rush, the supporting cast makes the film shine even brighter. Georgia Hale, who Chaplin discovered after championing Josef von Sternberg’s debut independent film Salvation Hunters, is a spunky, engaging romantic interest.
Chaplin with his two great screen partners, Georgia Hale and Mack Swain
As good as Hale is, Max Swain playing Chaplin’s snowbound cabin-mate steals the show. A longtime Keystone star who appeared alongside Chaplin in numerous shorts, Swain is a perfect foil. Big and gruff, Swain is instantly convincing as a rugged prospector, delivering one of the best comedic performances in silent cinema. Whether reacting to Chaplin chasing him around the cabin or dangling over a cliff, Swain’s facial reactions are comedy gold.
Word of warning: do not watch the 1942 re-release version. Chaplin went back and recorded a voice-over narrating the events of the film and released it to audiences in 1942. While it’s always fun to hear Chaplin’s voice, the voice-over narration takes you out of the magical world that only silent films can capture. The humor is over-emphasized in Chaplin’s narration and the sound version takes out much of the serious tone of the original silent version that perfectly blends the comedy with the danger the characters find themselves. Luckily the original 1925 version is in the public domain and is easily to find online in good condition.
The Gold Rush more than earns its spot ranks at number six on Silent Era’s Top 100 Silent Movies list. It’s a beautifully made, endlessly entertaining film that stands as one of Chaplin’s best. While I’d disagree with Chaplin that this is his best (my personal pick would be City Lights or Monsieur Verdoux), the original 1925 silent version stands out as one of the definitive silent comedy classics.
Up next in this review series I’ll be taking a look at more classic comedians with Laurel and Hardy’s short silent comedy Big Business.
