Verdict:
Note: Gold Rush comes in two versions. One is a traditional silent film, and the 1946 version is a mix between a silent movie and a talkie. In that one, characters are not talking but there is a narrator talking instead of there being title cards.
There was a time, long ago, when slapstick was still smart. This Charlie Chaplin movie is an example from that era. Gold Rush is genuinely funny, despite the comedy being based on physical slapstick. There are no penis jokes or poop jokes needed to make this movie funny, unlike the modern “comedies”. Although most of the comedy comes from Charlie Chaplin’s physical hijinks, the commentary of the narrator can be quite witty as well. You will probably not be laughing loudly, but Gold Rush is a charming film worth plenty of smiles.
The story is about the Tramp in Alaska during the gold rush era. I was surprised that some of the comedy was quite dark. Although the movie is entertaining overall, it did get a little tedious in the middle. The performances are not so captivating, and the humour is not so pronounceed as to keep you entertained the whole time. Also, the ending seems to be an afterthought. It feels rushed, like the story skips about 10 minutes worth of story that should have explained what happened to some of the characters.
Behind the slapstick are themes of loneliness, resilience, fate, and survival. Comedy, sometimes very silly, is intersected with scenes of death, hardships, friendship, and celebration. This is quite a rollercoaster ride. By the end of the film, I was a bit surprised by the happy ending given to the main characters. If you follow the harsh reality shown throughout the film, you should end up with an equally realistic ending. But of course, this is still a comedy.
The Gold Rush is also a visually interesting film. There are some special effects done using miniatures and a technique whereby the characters from one film are pasted over the background of another film. The shots of mock up models are interchanged with the close-up shots of the real thing, like for example there is a live bear involved but during certain scenes it becomes a dude in a costume. The effects look fake, but nonetheless interesting, and very advanced for the time. The cold landscape is hash, shown in high contrast. The set design for the town is very cozy and atmospheric.
The Gold Rush didn’t leave me with some special feeling, but it is definitely a gem and an excellent example of its genre.