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 #153 | 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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Taglines:

"The Picture I Want to Be Remembered by." -Charlie Chaplin. (Print Ad- Calgary Daily Herald, ((Calgary, Alta.)) 30 December 1925)

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Licorice shoes eaten in the film were made by the American Licorice Company at their San Francisco, CA location opened in 1925. The Company founded in Chicago, IL in 1914 is still in production today at both locations.

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Goofs

When Georgia enters The Lone Prospector's cabin after having not shown up for New Year's Eve dinner, she is accompanied by Jack "the ladies man". At first, Jack is holding a pistol in his right hand. When the scene cuts away from him and then back, the gun is gone.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Photographer: Hold! Still!
[Lone Prospector and Georgia kiss]
Photographer: Oh! You've spoilt the picture.

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Alternate Versions

Silent versions runs 82 minutes at today's current projection speeds, but silent versions during the 1925 projection rate would have run closer to 96-100 minutes. The 1942 reissue took out a few scenes as well as all the subtitles, and at sound speed runs 72 minutes.

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Connections

Featured in TCM Guest Programmer: Fan Dedications (2019)

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!

Details

Official Sites:

Instagram Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English None

Release Date:

13 July 1925 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

The Gold Rush

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$923,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,916

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