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 #138 | 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

national film registry | little tramp | gold | klondike | 19th century | 

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family

---

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

The 2,500 men playing prospectors were real vagrants who were hired for one day's pay.

---

Goofs

When the Tramp is looking at his paper "compass" the wide shots show him wearing gloves, but the close-ups of his hands show that he's not wearing gloves.

---

Connections

Featured in Filmmakers in Action (2005)

User Reviews

Little Tramp makes good

Charlie Chaplin's silent film (also re-released with a narration in the early 1940s) focuses, as usual, on the Little Tramp, and in this case, his attraction to a chorus girl (Georgia Hale). This is the one where he eats a boot, along with its laces, and manages to make it appear a sumptuous meal; as well as creating a dance with bread rolls.

The role of the girl was originally intended for the second Mrs Chaplin, Lita Grey, but her pregnancy ruled her out. Georgia Hale is excellent in her disdain of the unwanted Tramp attentions. Mack Swain appears as Big Jim, who shares a cabin with the Tramp, at one point getting so hungry he imagines his pal as a chicken ready to eat! This film has the spirit of the pioneers and gold-runners, as well as the inimitable spirit of the little hero. As a silent it is one of the best comedies of the time, as a sound film, it is fairly good.