Special Screening

The Gold Rush – USA (1925)

Directed by:  Charlie Chaplin

In this classic silent comedy, the Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) heads north to join the Klondike gold rush. Trapped in a small cabin by a blizzard, the Tramp is forced to share close quarters with a successful prospector (Mack Swain) and a fugitive (Tom Murray). Eventually able to leave the cabin, he falls for a lovely barmaid (Georgia Hale), trying valiantly to win her affections. When the prospector needs help locating his claim, if appears the Tramp’s fortunes may change.

Charlie Chaplin shot several scenes on location near Truckee, California in early 1924 after reading about the Donner Party and seeing images of the terrain. Chaplin wove starvation, cannibalism in one famous scene from the film where Chaplin and his co-star attempt to eat a boot for dinner.

The Gold Rush was one of the highest grossing silent films in cinema history and Chaplin proclaimed at the time of its release that this was the film for which he wanted to be remembered.