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Made in 1931 shortly after the introduction of the talkies, Charlie Chaplin's City Lights is nonetheless near-silent. Chaplin was afraid that, should his universally known and beloved Tramp speak onscreen, he would be severely limited and compromised as a character. And so, City Lights is billed as "pantomime", a piece of cinema harking back to the manners and methods of an already defunct era.
Chaplin fell out of fashion towards the end of the 20th century as a new wave of comedians (Rowan Atkinson for one) castigated him for what they saw as his excessive, maudlin sentimentality. Certainly, City Lights--which sees Chaplin's Tramp befriended by a blind flower girl who mistakes him for a rich benefactor--is hokum indeed. Accepting this, however, what makes the film so marvellous is the deceptive skill and artistry of Chaplin the filmmaker, the immaculate timing and acrobatic grace of his seemingly slapstick comedy, in particular a justly famous boxing sequence. Chaplin's sparing use of sound is inventive also: the wordless waffle of public speakers in the opening scene and another in which the tramp swallows a whistle. Moreover, the conclusion, in which the dishevelled Tramp encounters again the flower girl, her eyesight restored is--sentimentality notwithstanding--one of the most moving and superbly executed scenes in cinema history, not least for its economy and restraint.
On the DVD: City Lights contains a generous package of extras on this two-disc set, including an introduction by David Robinson, in which he relates how poorly Chaplin and his leading lady Virginia Cherrill got on, an extended documentary/interview with Peter Lord (partner in animation to Nick Parks), who sings the praises of Chaplin's screen art, and a deleted scene, an immaculate piece of business involving a grate and a stick. There's a bonus in the form of an excerpt from 1915's The Champion, in which Chaplin prefigures the boxing scene from City Lights. Meanwhile, the "documents" section includes a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage, including a test screening for alternative actress Georgia Hale, rehearsal shots, chaotic scenes of Chaplin being mobbed in Vienna, a meeting with Winston Churchill and 1918 footage of Chaplin horsing around with famous boxers of the day including Benny Leonard. It also contains trailers, photo gallery and subtitles. On the first disc, the film's transfer to DVD is splendid. --David Stubbs
Product Description
This 1931 silent comedy drama from Charles Chaplin sees The Tramp fall in love with a beautiful, blind flower girl, whose family is in financial trouble. When he learns that an operation may restore the girls sight, he sets off to earn the money she needs to have surgery. The Tramp's friendship with a wealthy man allows him to be the girl's benefactor and suitor but will she love him even when she discovers that he is not a wealthy duke, but a tramp? This Blu-ray-only release features the film restored in HD, with the following extras: Chaplin Today: City Lights documentary, Introduction by David Robinson (Chaplin Biographer), Footage of Winston Churchill visiting the set and outtakes.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. C. Moore
Format:DVD
Long before the Romantic Comedy genre developed the stifling limitations it labours under now, Charlie Chaplin directed this wonder.
No self-assured, handsome, and above all rich hero here. The plot is entirely driven by the heroine's assumption that The Little Tramp is a wealthy man and owner of an expensive automobile, and much of the film is taken up by TLT's attempts to live up (or down) to this assumption. Trying to earn, beg or borrow the money to clear the heroine's back rent and buy her an operation to recover her sight brings him into many comic situations (including the hilarious and brilliantly choreographed boxing scene).
But TLT's love is an unselfish one, for the operation he intends to buy her will also expose the truth about himself and bring almost certain rejection and humiliation. Elsewhere in the film, wealth and the wealthy are given short shrift. Check out the alcoholic millionaire who is friendless and can only relate when he is drunk. How Chaplin resolves TLT's dichotomy in the final scene is as elegant as it is moving and satisfying.
This film is B&W and silent (something Chaplin insisted upon, even though he could have made a talkie) and is a perfect example of how narrative can be driven without dialogue.
City Lights won't change your life. But as a depiction of how love can transcend social and physical barriers, and how money can both create and destroy, it is unequalled.
No self-assured, handsome, and above all rich hero here. The plot is entirely driven by the heroine's assumption that The Little Tramp is a wealthy man and owner of an expensive automobile, and much of the film is taken up by TLT's attempts to live up (or down) to this assumption. Trying to earn, beg or borrow the money to clear the heroine's back rent and buy her an operation to recover her sight brings him into many comic situations (including the hilarious and brilliantly choreographed boxing scene).
But TLT's love is an unselfish one, for the operation he intends to buy her will also expose the truth about himself and bring almost certain rejection and humiliation. Elsewhere in the film, wealth and the wealthy are given short shrift. Check out the alcoholic millionaire who is friendless and can only relate when he is drunk. How Chaplin resolves TLT's dichotomy in the final scene is as elegant as it is moving and satisfying.
This film is B&W and silent (something Chaplin insisted upon, even though he could have made a talkie) and is a perfect example of how narrative can be driven without dialogue.
City Lights won't change your life. But as a depiction of how love can transcend social and physical barriers, and how money can both create and destroy, it is unequalled.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Well what can i say about this film! It is so perfect.
All through the film Chaplin gives us laughs and tears sometimes in the space of 2 seconds. And the legendary ending which has been copied by woody Allen is so brilliant that words could not do it justice. I am 18 years old and a huge chaplin fan and people who have not seen Chaplins work before should definitley see this one as their first chaplin experience. Chaplin once said that out of all his movies, he would like The Gold Rush for which he would be most remembered, however many would agree that City Lights is a huge contender for Gold Rush!
All through the film Chaplin gives us laughs and tears sometimes in the space of 2 seconds. And the legendary ending which has been copied by woody Allen is so brilliant that words could not do it justice. I am 18 years old and a huge chaplin fan and people who have not seen Chaplins work before should definitley see this one as their first chaplin experience. Chaplin once said that out of all his movies, he would like The Gold Rush for which he would be most remembered, however many would agree that City Lights is a huge contender for Gold Rush!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Mario
Format:DVD
Apart from our suspicion of sentiment, the real reason for Chaplin's reduced status is that nobody watches him on the big screen anymore. Fill an art house cinema, buy a 60 inch tele or put it on in a village hall and the detailed operatic/balletic balances between comedy and tragedy that represent of necessity the best of silent cinema become irresistably apparent. Also the detail of the final scene just lasts longer when you are with an audience trying not to embarrass yourself in this godforsaken hard-edged filth obsessed world of sin.
I do feel better now and am going to look again at Virginia's eyes.
I do feel better now and am going to look again at Virginia's eyes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest films ever
City Lights is a brilliant example of Chaplin's art and the sentimentality is all part of it. I think he brings it off amazingly and really shows that sentimentality can be a very... Read more
Published 14 months ago by schumann_bg
5.0 out of 5 stars
chaplin at his finest
I found this film very enjoyable at many levels, I also have learnt to play the violin score which is varied and interesting and fits well with the film. Read more
Published 16 months ago by grahame2012
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flower Girl Meet's A Tramp.
I am a big chapin fan. This silent movie is my all time favourites (along with Chapin's other film The Kid.) He was and, still is the best comic actor of his era. Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2008 by I. Hall
5.0 out of 5 stars
True Love is Blind
In a year that could produce talking pictures Charlie Chaplin took a chance with 'City Lights', making it an almost silent movie without dialogue. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2007 by Jay
4.0 out of 5 stars
Knockout Funny
The boxing scene in City Lights must be one of the funniest scenes of all time. When I watched a tape of this movie, I had to keep rewinding that part because I was crying so much... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2004 by Peter Reeve
5.0 out of 5 stars
The classic story of the Tramp and the Blind Flower Girl
I still remember flipping around the television one afternoon and stumbling upon this film on AMC. Believe it or not, I had never seen a Charlie Chaplin film. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2003 by Lawrance M. Bernabo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love is Blind
This is a masterpiece and one can't help wonder if those who accuse it of being overly sentimental really have a heart. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2003 by D. Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chaplin's Best
First of all, before I talk about the brilliance of this movie, I should like to make one thing clear. Jean Harlow is NOT in this movie. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2003
1.0 out of 5 stars
Cute But Unfunny
»City Lights« tries to turn pathos into comedy, or is it the other way round? Well, the pathos does seem to work because of the trick of letting the heroine be blind (at first),... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
A film of comedy and love!
City Lights, made in 1931, took Charlie over two years to complete, but it was worth it! This film sees the tramp in love with a blind flower girl, Chaplin tries to raise the money... Read more
Published on 28 July 2000
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