City Lights

The first time I saw this movie was in a theater because "City Lights" had a special screening. The films of Charlie Chaplin always impress me because they are more than just slapstick. There is drama and smart comedy as well. Even the slapstick is given the attention it needs. "City Lights" stands out from the other works of Chaplin because of its acting and use of sound (or lack thereof).

As one might expect from Charlie Chaplin, the slapstick is plentiful and still funny today. The boxing match in particular is a noteworthy sequence because it is quite humorous, well choreographed and has a story purpose. There are also sight gags in the movie such as the elephant. There are even gags "spoken" by the characters such as the millionaire asking "Am I driving?" and the tramp's subsequent reaction. The drunken millionaire is arguably the antagonist in this film. The butler, James, also is antagonistic because he will do whatever his boss says regardless of how contradictory it is. The tramp is funny because of pathos. This is best illustrated with the can of water the blind girl throws in his face. It may be funny but we feel pity for the tramp at the same time. We also pity the girl and it is this pathos that sets up the final scene, which all on its own balances the comedy of the entire film. The tramp is even poorer at the end of the movie than before. The pity we have for him is further amplified when the newspaper boys tense the tramp once again. Upon coming face to face with the girl, the tramp is so delighted to see her and find her prosperous that he accidentally crushes the flower. Being ashamed of his poor situation, he tries to leave without being recognized but can't resist taking the gifts. Then comes the realization we were all hoping for. I was expecting an ending similar to "The Circus" but not this time thankfully.

As mentioned, the acting (especially in the final scene) is what makes "City Lights" stand out from Chaplin's many other films. Virginia Cherrill, who plays the girl, knew Chaplin in an informal way and Chaplin decided to give her a screen test after other actresses testing for the role failed to please him. You might think that the chemistry they had on screen during filming was mirrored in real life but tensions were always high between the two actors. Cherrill was even fired and rehired during production. One thing I noticed watching this movie was that Chaplin as the director was using new cinematography methods that were uncharacteristic for a silent movie. There are pans and tilts for example. I also took notice of the tracking shot that movies through the crowd of dancers and finds the tramp's oversized shoes and then moves up. Chaplin composes the musical score in many of his films starting with this one. He also edited "City Lights". In 1931, sound (specifically synchronized sound) was the new fad. While this is technically a silent movie, there are sound effects and the musical score of course. This shows that while Chaplin clung to the past, he was adapting to the future (something that other silent movie stars could not do). The main reason why this silent film came out at the start of the sound era was because "City Lights" took so long to make.

Fun fact: Albert Einstein and his wife were the guests of honor at the film premiere of "City Lights". The movie was a big success when it first came out despite being a silent film and now has achieved a status that is the dream of many filmmakers. The final scene itself has become a favorite in all of film history. Many famous directors such as Orson Wells, Stanley Kubrick and Woody Allen cite this film as one of their favorites if not their ultimate favorite. The American Film Institute has put "City Lights" all over its lists: #38 for comedies, #1 for romantic comedies, #10 for love stories, #33 for inspirational films and #11 on the list of greatest American films of all time. The Tramp is also on the list of greatest heroes for AFI at #38 and while this character has appeared in many films, it the appearance on "City Lights" that made the cut. This is my favorite film from 1931 and I would dare say that this might be the best movie of Chaplin's career. The evidence is strong.

4 Stars