The Gold Rush (1925)

A prospector goes to 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 Rated Movies #139 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 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 | klondike gold rush | national film registry | little tramp | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family

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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)

Gross USA:

$5,450,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charles Chaplin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min (original) 72 min (1942 re-release) 81 min (edited) 88 min (1925 reconstructed)

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

Charles Chaplin claimed he got the idea for the film when he saw pictures of gigantic lines of prospectors heading up to the Alaskan gold fields.

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Goofs

The second cabin scene where they teeter over the edge of a cliff is supposed to be taking place in the daytime. But gaps in the planks of wood making up the cabin reveal a dark background indicating the film was shot indoors on a stage. When the cabin is tilting back and forth a stage light is occasionally visible through a gap in the upper right side of the cabin wall.

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Quotes

Georgia: You see, I'm very particular who I dance with.

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Alternate Versions

There is a 1942 re-issue version, prepared by Chaplin himself, which uses his own narration, music score, and editing (running time: 72 minutes). This version is the only one which has its copyright owned by the Chaplin Film company. Many scenes of the 1942 version derived from an alternate camera that was shooting simultaneously. This explains some of the very slight differences in camera angle, although Chaplin also deleted some footage in order to tighten the pacing (such as Big Jim and the Tramp's near-encounter in the Gold Rush town and the shot of a woman comforting another woman during the singing of "Auld Lang Syne".

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Connections

Referenced in Along Came Daffy (1947)

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!