Wednesday, September 3, 2008
THE GOLD RUSH (1925), Charlie Chaplin
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The shot that I found most interesting in the movie was the shot after Charlie Chaplin's character, The Tramp, thinks that Georgia is going to go to his house for dinner on New Years Eve. In this shot he runs into the cabin he's taking care of and throws everything around and jumps around like a man gone wild. The reason I found this interesting is because the action going on in the shot showed alot of commitment from the actor/director. The other thing that really added to the comedy element of the shot was the sped up frame rate the entire movie was shot in, and the static camera. The fact that it didn't move really added to the shot. However, most, if not all of the shots in the film were static if I'm not mistaken.
The shot that impacted me the most was the opening shot of Chaplin's character stumbling across the Alaskan mountain. The background of the surrounding mountains and clouds, with a few rays of light coming through, created a feeling that this location is both beautiful and perilous. This daunting feeling, however, was lifted with Chaplin’s comedic style of hiking through the snow and nearly plummeting over the side. Even the mere presence of Chaplin on the screen changed the atmosphere from solemn to humorous. I believe this opening shot set the comedic pace for the rest of the film.
My favourite shot was the one when Chaplin first enters the dance hall. He is shown from the rear, silhouetted against the dancers. He is dark and they are light, he is still and they are moving. He looks more lonely and isolated in that shot than in any of the barren wilderness shots.
My second-favourite is the one that follows moments later, when Georgia looks straight through Chaplin's Tramp. There was a real contrast in how the people and the environment were shown. There was much less of a sense of depth because Chaplin, Georgia and all the background actors filled the whole screen, and the camera seemed very close to them. It made the scene feel very claustrophobic and made the missed (physical/eye?) contact even more heartbreaking.
Dear Fire-roasted Shoelaces,
You caught my eye for so many reasons. Not only were you literally funny insofar as the simple act of eating an old, gross shoelace goes, but you were also manipulated to have other meanings and representations: in a single shot, you were cast as the string of a roast, tossed aside. This, of course, pokes fun at the notion of mirage; the extreme hunger Chaplin and his comrade had craved the meat associated with wealthy living.
Directly after, you were a string of spaghetti that Chaplin non-chalantly twirled around his fork and consumed. Spaghetti, of course, is notoriously associated with the Italians; it was mass produced for the Italian market in the 19th century, and as such was, and is, a more accessible food than a roast, (because of price, availability, preparation time and other factors).
So, is it of note that as a roast you failed, but as spaghetti you were (relatively) digestible?
Alas, I won't answer the question since I am now delving too much into themes. I basically just wanted to point you, Fire-roasted Shoelaces out as a great shot in "The Gold Rush".
Sincerely,
Tricia
The shot that I found to be the most interesting was at the dance hall when Georgia states, "If I could only meet someone worth while." Chaplin is placed directly behind her staring at the back of her head. She nonchalantly looks around the room then turns around and is facing Chaplin, but does not even notice he is there, she looks right through him. I find this scene funny because Chaplin is extremely noticable in contrast to the other men at the bar, his face is so pale and bright.
I noticed that in the shots with Georgia she also appears to be very pale, so she always stand out conpared to the other girls who all look similar.
I like the fact that Chaplin had the dark make-up around his eyes, it helps the audience to understand his emotions and expressions.
The shots that caught my eye were all ones that seemed like such modern slapstick comedy ploys but that obviously Chaplin used way before Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller. The house balancing on the ledge while they scramble back and forth inside, snow falling off a roof onto his head, Chaplin grabbing the bear leg thinking it's Big Jim. These were all suprising moments because to me they could have been in any modern comedy. However the shot that most interested me was when Chaplin turned into a chicken in front of Big Jim's eyes. Again, something that I could see in a movie today bu he did it first and he did it very, very funny.
I enjoyed watching the movie, and it is difficult for me to decide on a scene, but I have chosen the scene where Charlie Chaplin is backing up Big Jim, when he decides to stay in the cabin, despite the fact that the owner tries very hard to kick him out. I almost laughed out loud watching Charlie's facial expressions and gestures as he hides behind Big Jim. I really enjoyed that scene because that's when it hit home that it really wasn't an issue that the characters weren't speaking. The expressions, gestures and actions are more than enough to get the point across.
For me, the most moving shot would have to be in the Monte Carlo, when he is looking out over the hall. The dancing and drinking of everyone, the pure enjoyment they are experiencing completely contradicts Chaplin's character. The lighting, the angle, everything works together to create the mood. The feeling of pure isolation. The shot seems to be way ahead of its time.
The most amusing shot on the other hand, would have to be the dinner roll dance. I wasn't able to stop laughing through the entire shot. His facial expressions alone are comedic genious.
The shot that I found very interesting was Georgia forget to attend Charlie Chaplin's dinner on New Years Eve, after all Charlie Chaplin leaves the house alone and walks to the dance hall. He stand outside by the window, he looks so helpless and upset. All of the peoples are celebrating the new years inside the dance hall except him, the one who loved Geogia but she didn't make her promise. The shots hold there for about 4-5 seconds utill he slowly moves away. He is still and they are dancing in the room. The light is every dark outside which contrasts the bright light coming through the window from the dance hall, and it lighting Charlie Chaplin's sad expression, the feeling of emptiness. I think this shot is very powerful.
the shot that moved me....hmmm. There were many fantastic scenes, but the one shot that reached me the most was when the antagonist criminal, Black Larson, is holed up in the small shack during a great blizzard. While the unknowing prospectors 'invade' in on his probably stolen domain. The large struggle for the weapon along with getting tossed about by the blizzard doorway. The lone prospector was caught in the middle, with the gun intended to stare him straight in the eyes. This part was hilariously well constructed to show a horrific life threatening moment to be quite amusing to the audience.
The most memorable shot for me was in the scene where Georgia enters Chaplin’s cabin while he is out at the town hall on New Year’s Eve. There are multiple shots in this scene but the one that struck me the most was when Georgia finally feels guilty for the tricks that she has played on Chaplin. Her facial expression changes when she sees what he has done in preparation for a supper that they did not attend. It’s one of the few sad scenes in the movie and I found her sudden realization of the effects and consequences of her actions and the guilt she felt very genuine.
The shot that I enjoyed the most was the shoe cooking ordeal. I think it showed the desperation they had for anything edible at the time being. But what made the shot great was the comedic value of seeing someone eat the worst possible option of food, in what seemed like a very cold and vicious winter. It also struck a chord in me due to the fact i had seen countless parodies of this shot (The Simpons parodied at least two shots from this film ). I am not sure if this is where this shot originated but I will have to assume it likely was.
*random fact: after reading up a bit on the film it is said to be the highest grossing silent comedy film in history !
Adam Whittaker said,
Charlie Chaplin's, "The Gold Rush", is simply pure gold itself. The shot that found me to be quite attentive was the introductory shot where Chaplin is venturing the mountain-side ever so cautiously with his penguin-like walk. His appearance firstly was quite odd, his clothing did not seem suitable for the climate he was encountering. The fact that he was all alone on this extremely narrow ledge who knows hundreds of feet up and seemed not to care but was driven to reach his destination. The shot came across to me that Charlie's idea to the audience, was to take away from the frightening suspense of falling to his death by including a very comedic appearance, hilarious acting and facial expressions that kept you endlessely on your toes. This shot, I believe, set the pace for the rest of the film.
The shot that moved me in "The Gold Rush" occured when Charlie Chaplin's character was preparing their "Thanksgiving dinner". I found it very amusing to watch as he removed his shoe right off his foot, boiled it, carved it, and discarded the pieces of the shoe that were not "edible." I found it interesting to see one of the original sources of this type of comedy, since many modern comedies we see still use the classic mirage act. Also, by watching the characters dine on a shoe, we were given an idea of just how desperate they were for food, but in an entertaining and comedic way that still made the atmosphere of the film light and amusing.
I was also moved by the shot when Georgia discovers how much work Charlie Chaplin's character put into their New Year's dinner. After she realizes how much it meant to him, it is comforting to see her remorse for not coming to dinner. Her emotions show us that there is still hope for The Tramp to win Georgia over in the end.
A shot that stood out to me personally is when Big Jim wakes up from being unconscious and walks towards the camera with a completely dazed and confused expression. At first it is strange watching a movie without spoken lines because I am so used to watching movies that have a lot of dialogue since most modern movies are non-silent. I actually really like silent films though because they use a lot of visuals to portray the scenes/plot. The actors/actresses need to really work their facial expressions and body movements, more than what is required in a film with dialogue. Even though the quality of filming equipment used during the filming of this movie may have been not as advanced as what is used nowadays, the effort and creativity of the director makes the film itself to be of a very high quality.
There were many shots to choose from but the one that I enjoyed the most would have to be where Charlie Chaplin gets into the fight in the dance hall. He has his hat pulled over his head and when he swings to hit his offender he hits a support beam instead, knocking a seemingly heavy clock onto his offender's head. This scene made me laugh out loud due to Chaplin's new found confidence after the fight. Chaplin's body language so perfectly captured a hilarious sense of misplaced pride and confidence which made it impossible for me to choose any other scene.
For my favorite shot I'd have to go with when The Tramp (Chaplin) and Big Jim McKay are forced to eat a boot to stave off their hunger. Chaplin takes his cooked boot from the stove, removes the laces, and divides the boot into two pieces. I love the bizarre sense of optimism Chaplin demonstrates throughout the entire shot: nodding approvingly as he takes his first bite, and at one point, even suggesting they cook his other boot. Being confined to the table, the shot is almost solely dependent on the facial expressiveness between the two, and Chaplin performs this masterfully. Another thing that makes this shot my favorite is that rather than being hindered by the lack of dialogue, Chaplin takes advantage of it by showing desperation in a way that words cannot.
There were many shots that stood out for me from this movie. If I had to choose just one that was the most memorable to me it has to be the shot of Chaplin's character reacting to Geogria saying that she will come to dinner on new years eve. It was entertaining to see him jumping all over the place and at a later point the entire cabin gets littered with feathers from the pillows he throws around in the room from excitement. Georgia's facial expression when she comes back into the room was hilarious as she sees how much her answer to the dinner really affected him.
The shot that I enjoyed the most would have to be, the Thanksgiving dinner. The shot was of the dinner table and Chaplin’s shoe, which was being divided equally among the men, providing them with a satisfying and enjoyable meal. But with an item not expected and out of the ordinary. Chaplin’s comedic flair made the shot. Having him take actions seen within a normal meal, example being when he was picking the bones clean or in this case the nails and making it into something anyone could experience in there life and providing us with humour. The shot drew me in from the moment it started because it was not normal and you wouldn’t think of it happening. Out of all the great shots the movie provided, this one stick in my head the most simply because it was unique.
The shot that impressed me, was the shot of Chaplin fighting to remain in the cabin as the storm winds were blowing him out. The reason that this certain shot resonated within me is that it demonstrates Chaplin's skill of physical comedy. A shot of someone fighting against storm winds has been replicated numerous times in movies, to the point that it is no longer funny. Since Chaplin has such a unique comedic style, the routine was humorous and was not an attempt at humour. Chaplin's skill and style of comedy brings not only the shot but the entire movie to a more sophisticated form of comedy than if any other comedian attempted to act in the movie.
My favorite shot in the movie was when Charlie and the larger fellow started getting to the point of starvation and charlie turned into a chicken. It was probably the funniest part in the movie. Its weird though how that actually happened in the real gold rush and charlie made a joke about it in the movie when now a days there are alot more censors over tragedies.
-Sean Pallick
The shot that moved me the most was at the dance hall when everybody else started to pair up and dance expect Chaplin. he just stood there all alone isolated from all others, the use of light is beautiful in this shot ,the comparison between bright crow and dark Charlie emphsized his loneliness. Charlie Chaplin is a ture mater of acting,all the little action he did in this shot truly showed how a stranger in a crowded place feels, lonely ,lost and longing to longing to join.
The shot that I found most interesting in the flim, "The Gold Rush" was the opening shot, in which hundreds of gold hungry hopefuls parade up the snow covered mountains in hopes of discovering their cure for poverty. This shot moves me as it demostarted the reality of the Gold Rush as well as the unique isolation shot of so many people, following the same dream. The colours in the shot also contrast each other with the black line of people stumbling up the mountain, set against the vast white area of the snow. This shot sets the original theme and setting to the film so that viewers can grasp the isolation and bleak outlook that the prospectors experienced during the Gold Rush.
When prospector sleeping in the house with McKay and the house blow off by the storm. Isn't that when people standing beside by death with someone who you didn't really know, will think of themselves first(I want to get out of here first) ? As the shot showed prospector used his body and head to help Mckay out of the house, whick was the shot that moved me.
Also at the same scene, I was thinking since the movie begin. Nowadays, we can see so many CG that used on movies for difficult or impossible things. The scene was make me feel so amazing and would like to know the technique.
The shot that entertained me the most was when Charlie Chaplin was boiling his boots for him and Big Jim McKay to eat. Despite the fact that Charlie was cooking his boots he was more concerned about the cleanlyness of the plate he was to serve it on as he wipes it off. Both his facial expressions and the suttlety of his actions define for me his comical genious in this film. The sequence following this shot is also halarious as he procedes to eat his boots as if it were a plate of spaghetti and ribs.
Adam Sawyer
The scene that intrigued me the most was the appearance of the rifle throughout the beginning and towards the middle of the film. When the rifle appeared on screen, it showed a symbol of power and fear, which gave the audience a sense of panic and uplift. One scene which featured the rifle was when Big Jim Mckay envisioned Chaplin as a large chicken, and began chasing Chaplin throughout the cabin with an axe. The only way Chaplin would set things straight was putting Big Jim Mckay at gun point. When Chaplin was wielding the rifle it gave me a sigh of relief, knowing that Chaplin will be safe.
One of my favourite shot in Gold Rush was the part when Charlie Chaplin's character just finish with making New Year's eve dinner for the ladies. He falls asleep and imagined he was giving out his speech which he didn't say too much since it was a silence film and Chaplin is known for his great body and face expressions. It was really clever of him how he took the bread and the fork to come up with a dance. It was different and entertaining because it was simple. Simple that it had no special effects, it was pure talent!
There's one part in the Gold Rush reminds me in an odd way of another movie Elf with Will Farrow. It was the scene when he was eating mixed candy & spaghetti it had Chaplin's eating his shoe written all over it.
The shot that moved me in this particular film was the shot in the dance hall when Charlie Chaplin's character first saw Georgia. "The Lone Prospector" had his gaze fixed on Georgia and she was looking right through him and all around him searching for someone to love. To me it looked like he was love struck at first sight. I guess I connected with it because it's a familiar feeling to me. Who doesn't see someone in the bar and get totally lost in them for a moment every once and a while. At least that was the feeling my interpretation elicited. I just thought it was a great shot because it brought a new dimension into the characters in that solitary stretch of the film.
The shot that moved me must be the one of the lone tramp and Big Jim in the cabin. It was when Big Jim first saw the tramp as a chicken out of desperation and hunger. That scene was so interesting because I did not know what to expect of costumes they used in olden times. Sure I do appreciate modern and cool costumes these times but boy that was funny and it had a more comedic punch to me that I never felt before. Maybe it's because I did not expect it to look that way. But yes it's sad that I have no further explanation but that was the shot that moved me.
Georgia kinda reminded me of Maggie Gyllenhaal. The demeanor, the face, etc... Does anyone think so too?
The shot that moved me from the movie was when there was a snow storm and Charlie Chaplin found a cabin for shelter and there was Big Jim there and he was trying to kick him out but everytime he opened the door and Chaplin tried to leave he couldn't because the win was pushing him back. I found this scene very moving because he made is look so easy but I guess it is not. Also it is a very funny scene and I can tell a movie without words only seeing people act is very interesting.
“I thought you was a chicken”
I loved this shot and to me, this was the one worth writing about. The shot is where The Tramp and Big Jim are sitting at the table in the cabin right after the subtitles, “I thought you was a chicken”. Big Jim then starts laughing hysterically, and The Tramp starts to laugh as well. However, as Big Jim continues his frantic laughing, The Tramp stop suddenly and nervously looks to the side, since he realized the possible harmful outcomes this can mean for him. He then slowly looks back at Big Jim, and Big Jim does an imitation of the chicken he thought he just saw (with his neck moving back and forth), and starts laughing even more hysterically. The tramp then cautiously grabs the knife on the table and slips it in the back of the cabin to hide it. Very comical!
Jenna Ralston said...
I like the shot where Charlie Chapin pulls out a piece of paper that has N E S W on it. Then he tries to figure out which way is north. For me personally I am terrible at knowing which way is north and thats exactly how I feel when people ask me which direction were facing. Thank god for technology. As well it reminded me of Joey from friends when there in London and he pulls out a pop up map and steps inside it and tries to figure out where he's going. Joey just like Chapin walk in the direction there confident they want to be heading. But us the audience has no idea how they figured that out.
The shot that I found the most interesting and entertaining was the sequence where the large fellow believes that the tramp is a giant chicken. Despite the novelty of the scene, it actually works with this style of movie. The fact that we can not hear these people speak, means we have to see what they are thinking. I found myself laughing at this scene, even though I knew that it was a cliche.
The chase sequence that happens between the two and the later scenes of the tramp scared for his life were hilarious. I found it interesting how, even though this movie was made long before I was born and that I was still able to connect to the film.
Sage Daniels
The shot I really liked was in the bar when Georgia is talking to her friend, wishing for someone worthwhile, and then completely blowing charlie off. I love how how this scene is just torture to watch, she is virtually inches from his face and still doesn't see him. He is totally invisible to her. The are off to the right of the shot a little bit but still definitely the main focus. How can she not even glance at him?! Ahh it was totally gut wrenching. Poor charlie. I believe that the shot started closer up and then sort of slowly backed up as we realized that nothing was going to happen between the two of them.
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