Gold Rush

The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 1 (Modern Times / The Great Dictator / The Gold Rush / Limelight)
$79.98
The very first Chaplin film that I ever saw was when I was a kid when my mother brought me to see "The Great Dictator" on the big screen. As a kid, I didn't really appreciate what the movie was about and so although I laughed at the slapstick moments, I didn't really "get it" until I watched it again many, many years later as part of this very good box set. The only downer is that my copy here is faulty and hence everything after the classic pudding scene for some reason will not show; as no one else has mentioned it here I'm assuming that I'm just the unlucky one to get a bum disc.

Watching the other very well restored picture and remastered sound quality films I realised that Chaplin's genius was such that I actually enjoyed the "silent" films like "Modern Times" and "The Gold Rush" - redux a.k.a. 1942 version a whole lot better than the sound comedies of the time and also many of the more recent comedies that age poorly from the 70s. I was amazed that I could still laugh at most of "Modern Times" which I can now say is not only my favourite Chaplin film but also one of my favourite comedies ever as well as the re-done "The Gold Rush" especially the dancing rolls scene with the very well composed piece accompanying it as well as the brilliant boot-eating scene. I have watched "City Lights" separately which is also a very good film but I feel Chaplin's best work is in this volume one collection.

Watching these films made me realise just how talented this man really was as he was also very good in talkies such as "Limelight" which is also an excellent film. He composed the score which was later awarded an Oscar and indeed he was an excellent composer and singer as well even if it is gibberish lyrics such as in "Modern Times" or on "Limelight" where he also wrote the script and directed this and all his movies. I can't imagine why people say sound killed the silent stars except perhaps because of their own unwillingness to make the transition as watching Buster Keaton's cameo and very funny role on "Limelight" I thought there was nothing wrong with his voice and if he wanted to, he could have made the transition to voice just as Chaplin did. He would just need to find a good script or write his own as Chaplin did. In fact, I thought Keaton's cameo on "Sunset Boulevard" was good although he hardly said anything.

I watched the Marx Brothers Collection immediately after this set and it is night and day with regards how much more I liked Chaplin's work over that one. For one most of the jokes are still funny with Chaplin while much of the Marx Brothers' stuff made me keep looking at the watch to see how much more time there was left to endure it. Also Groucho shamelessly steals many of Chaplin's dance moves with the kicking steps in some scenes of "Horse Feathers" which if you compare are identical to what Chaplin does in his earlier films. Amazing how so many words on the Marx Brothers can barely raise a chuckle from me while the sparse and efficiently used words on Chaplin's works made me laugh a whole lot more and I am actually looking forward to watching them again and even to buy "The Great Dictator" again to replace the dud that Amazon sent me the first time. I thought "Duck Soup" was pretty good but you'd have to pay me to watch the other ones on that set again; maybe "Cocoanuts", "Animal Crackers", "Monkey Business" and "Horse Feathers" were funny during the Depression but watching them today almost gave me a depression!

Excellent restoration job, excellent choice of content, good special features extras and packaging make this a very good value purchase and a must have for any fan of film's video library; just make sure you don't get a dud disc like I did. As I live too far away from the U.S. I'm afraid I can't do a return or exchange but I'm sure you can.

Recommended!

The Gold Rush (2 Disc Special Edition)
$29.98
Timeless Comedy about Little Tramp arriving in the Yukon as a prospector looking for Gold and finding hilarity, success and romance. Classic sequences abound from the unforgettable Shoe eating scene to the dance of the dinner rolls and the Cabin teetering over the cliff.

Chaplin is brilliant in this picture as the lonely and courageous Tramp. His story in this one is somewhat simpler than his later films but perhaps that's what makes this his best. This is a simply told tale that is brought off incredibly well. Chaplin's film and character is the most miraculous combination of slapstick and sentiment ever seen. We relate to this tramp and empathize with his plight and we feel joy when he finds purpose.

The cast adds immeasurably, particularly the unforgettable Mack Swain as the burly prospector, Big Jim Mckay who so memorably chases Chaplin through the cabin as he mistakes him for a chicken. The actor and Chaplin play off each other incredibly well and there friendship is one of the film's highlights.

Georgia Hale is a gorgeous lead. Independant and yet, vulnerable, her character is probally Chaplin's best developed female lead with the possible exception of Paulette Goddard in "Modern Times(1935)". Hale's character is in need of fullfillment and redemption, just as much as Charlie is and the conclusion where both end up with each other romantically, we feel that she has won just as much as he has. She is better off with earning the love of this good man. It should be noted that thsi ending is probally one of the only REAL happy endings in Chaplin's career. There's no ambiguity or message. Things just work out and that's the way it is.

Chaplin's film strikes a chord with it's emotional complexity. The film has several funny stand out moments but it's the warmth that forms the center of the film. Chaplin dervies most of the humor through the darkest means. Alot of the ideas were found from his own childhood and the theme of Starvation and the importance of food plays a large role in the film. Even taboo subjects like CANNIBALSIM play a large role in the Comedy. Several films have used the concept of starvation making one mistake another for a food, but it's Chaplin that made it his own. Chaplin as the Chicken from Big Jim's imagination is one of the great comic images. Chaplin himself performed inside the suit.

There are no standard villians in the role, only catalysts. There is a villainous character named "Black Larsen" but he is killed off halfway through and the true "bad guy' is the elements themselves. In a way this may seem more Keaton than Chaplin but it works immeasurably and is more relateable for Chaplin in his general battle against adversity. The world may be seemingly against Chaplin but he'll battle it and we the audience are convinced that he'll come out on top. It's a wonderful, enpowering message that few but Chaplin could make so uterly believable.

This film was my introduction to the Little Tramp properly. I had first seen the film as part of a Comedy Triple Feature Video that my grandmother had bought for me. The other two films were Laurel and Hardy's "The Flying Deauces" and the Martin and Lewis vehicle, "At War With the Army". The Chaplin film was last on the video and it mesmerized me. Rarely did a film amaze me enough that I found myself watching immediately after it had finished, but that's exactly what I did. I watched the film numerous times over the years until this wonderful DVD release became available.

Despite the price tag the DVD is completely worthwhile. The film has never looked better and the set is filled with extras. They include the 1940 reissue version with Chaplin's narration and the 1925 Original, restored and remastered as well as being rescored with Chaplin's original score. Both are VERY different versions with alternate takes and extended scenes in the 1925 version and an abridged ending in the 1940 version.
The DVD also includes an informative documentary on the film's impact and an introduction to the film that serves as a making of feature. Also several photos and posters are included as well.

This is simply put one of the greatest motion pictures of all time and essential viewing for the serious film buff and Comedy afficionado alike. If you have not have had the pleasure of meeting Charlie yet, it's about time to make your first meeting via this imperishable Classic.

Enjoy.

The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War (Vintage Civil War Library)
$14.95
The book starts and ends with the duel between Senator Broderick and California Supreme Court Justice Terry. In between it tells stories from California history from before the gold rush to the civil war. The initial portion of the book focuses on the fairly well known history of early settler's, Sutter, and the stampede for gold. The most intriguing part here was the story of transportation to California and Vanderbilt's vindictiveness against those that wronged him.

The bulk of the book covers the movers and shakers in California at the time. These are the stories of men that left there home states in pursuit of greater political power in California. These stories are tied to the quest of politicians in Washington to balance the free and slave state needs. The story of the southern "Chivs" in California is especially interesting.

The many different threads all seem to tie in to the story of California. However, the story ends before the civil war, with the war only mentioned briefly in the epilogue. With the emphasis of the title I would expect a little more coverage at least up to the start of the war.

Gold
$19.98
I bought this for my husband for his birthday. He was/is a Rush fan and he said this CD is definitely "Awesome"!!!