Charlie Chaplin and Society

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the film "Gold Rush" and shows how Charlie Chaplin went against the societal trends of his time by portraying social perspectives and ideals. The paper describes the film that is partially based on the infamous gold rush in Alaska where many men died with hopes and dreams of finding gold. The paper demonstrates how this film presented the hopes, dreams and failures of average working people in America.

From the Paper:

""The Gold Rush is the quintessential Chaplin film, with a balance of slapstick comedy and pantomime, social satire, and emotional and dramatic moments of tenderness" (Dirks). It is a film that is partially based on the infamous gold rush in Alaska where many men died with hopes and dreams of finding gold. And, it is also influenced some what by the story of the Donner party, as some of the scenes were filmed in Northern California in the region where the Donner party was headed (Dirks)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bond, Gloria. "Entertainment and Chaplin." <http://users.erols.com/gbond/chaplin.htm>.
• Dirks, Tim. "The Gold Rush (1925)." 2005. <http://www.filmsite.org/gold.html>.
• Pierce, David. "Slapstick from A-Z." Silent Film Sources, May-Aug 1998. <http://www.cinemaweb.com/silentfilm/98_2_mon.htm>.
• Wolcott, David. "Working-Class Hollywood: Silent Film and the Shaping of Class in America." Journal of Social History, Fall 1999.
• Maland, Charles "Chaplin and American Culture" Sheffield Academic Press, 2000.

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