Directed by Charles Chaplin
1936/USA
Charles Chaplin Productions
Repeat viewing
#95 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
A gamin: [Last lines] What’s the use of trying? A factory worker: Buck up – never say die. We’ll get along.[/box]
Chaplin and his Little Tramp fight the Great Depression in this masterpiece.
A Factory Worker (Charles Chaplin) is driven to madness by his job on the assembly line. After stints in the hospital and jail, Chaplin attempts to rescue a Gamin (Paulette Goddard) who is caught stealing a loaf of bread. The two set up a kind of housekeeping, battle authorities, and walk off into the sunset.
This was the first and last time the Little Tramp’s voice was heard. I think it is so fitting that his one song with words is in no language or any language. After all, he belonged to the whole world. The delights of this movie are too many to mention. I think Chaplin’s great talents were as a mime and a kind of dancer and this film shows them off to the full. It’s too bad he didn’t go on making semi-silent films. In my opinion, all his subsequent work suffers from preachiness,
Clip – conclusion
Well, this was kind of an experiment, mixing silent and sound. It could only work so many times, even Chaplin knew that. But I am happy he did this one.
I’m very happy he did it. There is some more of his great poetic mummery in the “globe” scene of The Great Dictator but after that, sadly, I find his films go steadily downhill in my estimation.
1936 is shaping up to be a pretty good year! Paulette Goddard is the personification of gamin. Chaplin, well, is Chaplin before sound becomes a burden for him.
I’m really enjoying myself! I’ll finish up 1935 today and then it will be 1936 all the way.