Charlie Chaplin in The Gold Rush

An annoyance: I ordered the Multformat and it comes as Blu-Ray only. This seems to be commonplace with Amazon as it has happened to me before with other titles. That aside, this is such a great classic. The remaster quality is excellent; very crisp and clean, and the sound is great. I appreciated the intact 1925 version as that is the version I saw and fell in love with as a child. One thing I will say, which I'm sure many will disagree with, is that I did not particularly like was the Chaplin 1942 score. I realize he made it specifically for this film (well, the '42 version anyway), and while it is great, for my taste it is far too serious and complicated for the movie. The very first time I saw this film it was on a videotape and had a piano accompaniment that was matched to the film. I have no idea who wrote it, but it was that classic "silent movie feel," which for me is more authentic and really more enjoyable (you can find something very close to it on YouTube if you're interested). I'm not sure how they'd find it or create it, but something like that on a second audio track would have been really cool. During a 1925 screening, you would likely have had something very simple being played live to accompany the film, usually a piano. There wouldn't have been a huge orchestra playing a complex piece. So while people contend that's what Chaplin would have wanted because he wrote it, it's not particularly in line with how the average Joe would have experienced the film.But hey, while I'm the type to appreciate how amazing the remaster looks, I also miss the dust and scratches.

Chaplin may not have been worth admiring in real life in the least, but his films hold up even a century later. The Gold Rush is the first Chaplin movie I saw and is still my favorite. I am not a huge fan of slapstick comedy, but maybe that is because few can carry it off as well as Chaplin. From the creativity of shoelace spaghetti, to the clumsiness of accidentally tying himself to a dog during a dance, to the physical humor in the cabin on a cliff scene, Chaplin managed to captivate audiences in the silent film era and even a college-aged woman in the 21st century. I sometimes mute the music during scenes like "the dance hall" when it becomes too repetitive, but overall the film score is very well done, also. If you've never seen a Chaplin movie, this is a good choice with which to begin.

Criterion does great work and the Blu-ray is beautiful. Like some other's I prefer the original 1925 version and score. The picture and editing of the 1942 version is better but the narration makes it kind of hokey. I have dozens of silent movies and just feels wrong to watch a movie of this era with out inter titles much less narration. Both scores are good but the original works so much better in my opinion. Which ever version you like the new criterion Blu-ray has both so everyone wins. Love Chaplin! Although, I may be as big or bigger Buster Keaton fan....

Chaplin's best film, but on this DVD it is ruined by a terrible piano sound track. There is not much way to tell from the reviews which DVD is being reviewed since Amazon put them all on the same page. A review of the film on this page could be a review of a different DVD. This does not have the same soundtrack as the Vintage Video VHS.

The Criterion Collection's remastered The Gold Rush (1925) is undoubtedly the Charlie Chaplin release of 2012. For years, the prevailing critical consensus was that Gold Rush was Chaplin's feature film masterpiece. However, a newer generation of critics have since argued that honor should go instead to City Lights (1931). The Gold Rush receives criticism for its episodic structure; however, all of Chaplin's features, including City Lights, are episodic to a degree. This is not necessarily a bad thing, making that a moot critique.The Criterion Collection release features the 1925 original, along with the 1942 re-edit that omitted the intertitles in favor of narration (by Chaplin) and economically trimmed down of some excess plot developments. While the 1942 version does look better and the editing is better paced, Chaplin's voice-over actually dates the film far worse than the silent original.Chaplin had a voice which carried well into the sound era. He intuitively knew that silent film was a different art form, however. Thinking about marketing, he seemed to have forgotten that fact. The 1942 version illustrates the artist's discomfort with sound. Chaplin never could wrap his art around the new sound medium, and he pointlessly tells us what we are already seeing. Some may prefer the 1942 version, but my concentration will be on the superior, original version that audiences of 1925 saw.While The Gold Rush exhibits Chaplin's characteristic pathos, here it is far better balanced with his brand of comedy than any of his other features (when the pathos, often, nearly soaked the films).Chaplin's increasing need for audience sympathy marred may of his later features. Here, he keeps that need in check, and all for the better. Chaplin's Mutual shorts are considered by many (including Chaplin) to be his best work. One of the reasons for that is the presence of his best nemesis in Eric Campbell. But, when Campbell was killed in an automobile accident in 1917, Chaplin was left without a great heavy. His first feature film, The Kid (1921) was able to bypass that. For this, Chaplin's second Tramp feature, two villains were needed: the bonafide villain Black Larson (Tom Murray) and reformed villain Big Jim McCay (Mack Swain). While neither Swain nor Murray could replace Campbell, they were aptly cast and give the film needed tension.The Gold Rush`s most discussed scene is the dance of the dinner rolls, often imitated (and usually badly--Chaplin was a master at utilizing props for something other than their intended use). What may be the most compelling scene, however, is the surreal chicken hallucination. Everyone has seen this scene spoofed in countless Looney Tune shorts. The starving villain (Swain) imagines his buddy (Chaplin) to be a walking meal (in this case, a plump chicken). Chaplin's shoe-eating scene (complete with shoe laces substituting for noodles) and the rocking house at the edge of the cliff are additional surreal vignettes.While Chaplin was never a Surrealist, many of his films contained surreal vignettes. The Kid had the dream of heaven, Sunnyside (1919) has the Tramp frolicking in a ballet with hill nymphs. Perhaps it was Chaplin's occasional, natural elements of Surrealism which endeared him to the movements luminaries, such as André Breton. Next to Harry Langdon and Buster Keaton, Chaplin was the filmmaker most cited by the Surrealists.As The Gold Rush progresses, hunger, the struggle for survival, and harsh elements give way to a soapy romance with the dance hall girl Georgia (Georgia Hale). Chaplin had originally cast 15 year-old Lita Grey in the role, but his getting her pregnant necessitated a new lead actress. While Chaplin does milk sympathy as a rejected lover, he never does it (here) at the expense of the film's comedic tone.As to be expected, the Criterion extras are abundant: both film versions, a 15 minute short (Presenting The Gold Rush), audio commentary, booklet, a look at Chaplin the composer, and James Agee's famous 1942 review of the film.*my review originally appeared at 366 weird movies

charlie chaplin in top form in this classic silent comedy. i would recommend this film to children of all ages.

Finalmente dopo ben 25 anni (oggi 28 maggio 2020) sono riuscito a rivedere questo autentico CAPOLAVORO ASSOLUTO di uno dei più grandi attori e cineasti di tutti i tempi !! Sinceramente amo tantissimo questo film e lo amo soprattutto IN QUESTA VERSIONE : in questo Dvd "minimalista" (praticamente una volta immesso il Dvd nel lettore c'è solamente una schermata "SENZA" nessun'altra opzione, si passa direttamente al film e basta) vi è presente SOLTANTO LA VERSIONE ORIGINALE DEL FILM così come uscì nelle sale alla metà degli anni 20 ; i pannelli (ossia le didascalie) sono TOTALMENTE ORIGINALI in lingua Inglese ; la lettera di Georgia (il personaggio femminile più significativo del film) è in lingua originale, senza modifiche o "italianizzazioni" (come invece purtroppo sono presenti in altre versioni, soprattutto quelle sonore di inizio anni quaranta [ossia alcuni fotogrammi vennero letteralmente sostituiti con delle scritte in Italiano per facilitare, appunto la comprensione di alcune scene da parte del pubblico di casa nostra, scempiando però così la versione originale dell'opera, sia pure di pochissimo]) ; tutto ciò qui NON ACCADE per fortuna, essendo la versione originale USA del film.Unica concessione, una bella colonna sonora realizzata interamente al pianoforte (nel 2012) tesa a sottolineare in vario modo le varie famosissime scene di questa autentica PIETRA MILIARE della cinematografia mondiale di tutti i tempi. // Per concludere un EDIZIONE QUESTA totalmente priva di contenuti speciali, che però permette di godere appieno della VERSIONE TOTALMENTE ORIGINALE (senza tagli, senza censure, senza modifiche arbitrarie) della pellicola così come fù concepita dal GENIO del suo autore. // FILM DA 10 E LODE, uno dei più grandi film di tutti i tempi e generi ; arrivato a casa in condizioni estetiche ASSOLUTAMENTE PERFETTE ED IMMACOLATO, consegna estremamente PROFESSIONALE // Che altro aggiungere? SE AMATE IL GENIO ASSOLUTO DI CHAPLIN, SE AMATE I FILM MUTI E SE AMATE LE VERSIONI ORIGINALI DI TALI FILM, QUESTO DVD È SEMPLICEMENTE PERFETTO.

This is such a great movie! Everyone should see it at least once. I like that I have both versions (the one with Chaplin talking and the silent movie). I prefer the silent movie but that is just a personal choice. The quality is excellent - especially considering it was made in 1925! This is Chaplin at his finest! The DVD arrived very quickly. I highly recommend you buy this movie!!!

Criterion Films are expensive and hence one of the criteria I use for purchase is Re-watchability. And, all of the Charlie Chaplin films are among them and you can watch them again and again. Criterion Hi-Def digital restoration is pretty good and images are good. However do not over expect as this is quite old film. Gold Rush is Charlie’s one of the best film and indeed a masterpiece. This special edition features both Chaplin’s definitive 1942 version, for which the director added new music and narration, and a new restoration of the original silent 1925 film. Though 1942 version do not lessens viewer experience by any means, I prefer little longer original 1925 release as I find title cards more interesting than the narration. Picture is better than thousand words and Charlie Chaplin’s original silent version conveys powerful message which do not need any narration in my opinion. After all Charlie Chaplin’s films symbolizes the glory of silent films.In this classic silent comedy, the Little Tramp heads north as prospectors in search of fortune in Gold Rush. After getting caught is snow storm, he hurries to only shelter he finds which is a wood cabin in the middle of nowhere. It turns out that that cabin was already occupied by a criminal Black Larson. There are countless memorable and comic situations inside cabin between Black Larson and Charlie including cooking of boots and cabin at the edge of cliff. Under the comedy lies the serious quest of Tramp for wealth and hardships he faces. He finds a beautiful dance-hall girl (Georgia Hall) and tries to get noticed by her. Again there are many comedy situation at dance halls like famous dance of the dinner rolls. Charlie becomes millionaire and meets Georgia again. In this movie Charlie brings lots of hilarious moments while highlighting various aspects human life such as Love, Kindness, Greed, Poverty, Loneliness, Hunger and societal difference created between rich and poor. It also showcases human weaknesses in tough times and at the same time showcases ability of human being to remain elevated in hard times. Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece has numerous memorable scenes in one masterpiece, some of them are extremely hilarious while some are quite moving. “Gold Rush” is definitely is an essential viewing- probably multiple times.Charlie Chaplin is undisputed masters of cinema. Thanks Criterion for bringing this to Hi-def life (and others: Modern Times, The Kid, The Great Dictator, City Lights and Limelight) and Salute to Maestro Charlie Chaplin !

1925 feierte die Komödie "Goldrausch" von Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) seine Premiere und wurde zu einem weiteren Klassiker aus der Stummfilmzeit.Der Tramp sucht in Alaska nach Reichtum und Glück, auch wenn alles so unerbittlich und gefahrvoll ist. Trotz all dieser Schwierigkeiten verliebt er sich in eine Saloontänzerin.Dieser Film ist zurecht ein Klassiker in Sachen Slapstickkomik.Ich liebe die unvergesslichen Szenen des Films, wie der Brötchentanz und die Blockhütten-Szene.Das einzig bedauerliche ist es, dass es die Tonfilm-Fassung von 1942 ist, auch wenn es interessant ist Charlie Chaplin im Original anzuhören. Man hätte in dieser DVD auch die Stummfilm-Fassung hinzufügen können.Nichtsdestrotrotz ist "Goldrausch" einfach nur belebend für alle, die das Lachen nicht verlernt haben.