The Gold Rush (1925)

The Tramp goes the Klondike in search of gold and finds it and more.

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writer:

Charles Chaplin

Stars:

Charles Chaplin, Mack Swain, Tom Murray

Top 250 #134 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Chaplin	...	The Lone Prospector
Mack Swain	...	Big Jim McKay
Tom Murray	...	Black Larsen
Henry Bergman	...	Hank Curtis
Malcolm Waite	...	Jack Cameron
Georgia Hale	...	Georgia

Storyline

A lone prospector ventures into Alaska looking for gold. He gets mixed up with some burly characters and falls in love with the beautiful Georgia. He tries to win her heart with his singular charm.

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Plot Keywords:

gold | klondike | love | alaska | silly walk | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1925 (Germany)

Also Known As:

La quimera del oro

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$923,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charles Chaplin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 95 min (original) 72 min (1942 re-release) 81 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System) (1942 re-issue) Silent (original release)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "dancing rolls" sequence was so popular with audiences that, in some cases (such as the film's Berlin premiere), projectionists stopped the film and replayed the scene.

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Goofs

In the 1942 sound version, Tom Murray's character is spelled Black Larsen on the "Wanted" ad, but Black Larson in the end credits.

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Connections

Featured in Mary Pickford: A Life on Film (1997)

User Reviews

Possibly Chaplin's best film, certainly one of the greatest comedies of all time!

To see Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush is to know enjoyment. One cannot help but enjoy a film as well-done as this! Chaplin said that this was the film for which he wanted to be remembered, and I can see why. It is a masterful blend of comedy, drama, and romance, among other genres seamlessly brought together in one extraordinary picture. Like all great movies, The Gold Rush has more than its share of memorable moments, from the Thanksgiving dinner to the dance of the dinner rolls to the cabin teetering on the edge of the mountain. All of these scenes are brilliant because of The Tramp's flawless physical comedy. He was a master of comedic timing, and he was one of the most graceful physical comedians I've ever seen. Don't get me wrong, this picture is not just three fantastic scenes amongst filler. The film moves along at a brisk pace, following the misadventures of our hero, The Lone Prospector (Charlie Chaplin, of course), as he attempts to hit it big by discovering gold in Alaska. Along his journey through the elements, the prospector meets the notorious Black Larsen (Tom Murray), a wanted criminal willing to do anything to get his hands on some gold. Fortunately, our friend also comes across a fellow prospector, Big Jim McKay (Mack Swain), who has finally defied all odds and struck it rich. But the Lone Prospector's adventures take place not only out in the middle of nowhere. When he is forced back to civilization, he falls in love with Georgia (Georgia Hale), the most beautiful girl in town. Of course, it would be all too easy if no one else was interested in this beauty. Jack Cameron (Malcolm Waite), the handsome lady's man who is not content with every other woman in town by his side; he must have Georgia, as well. Competition arises between the disappointed prospector and the ego-maniacal "lady killer." All of this would be too much for any one of us, but the Lone Prospector handles it all with his uncompromising resilience in the face of insurmountable odds to bring us one of the greatest comedies of all time! I will not lie, I am a fan of Charlie Chaplin's movies, but as objective as I can possibly be, this IS one of the great movies...Essential viewing!