Gold Rush

1.       Last week in class, we talked about and watched the film Gold Rush. In the film, there was a lot of physical comedy as well as sincere moments. The film starred Charlie Chaplin, who acted in and also directed the film. It was made in the early to mid-1920s and was silent. The only sound in the film was an accompanying score on a piano.  The film was just slightly over 90 minutes, but every moment was really great.  We also talked about the silent era of film and the evolution of silent slapstick comedy and how in the early 1900s, silent films dominated the film industry.

2.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gold_Rush - In this article off of Wikipedia on the internet, the article is all about the film and its background . It is divided into different sections: brief description/history, cast, and plot. It also has a section that focuses on the re-release of the film in 1942. The biggest thing about this article is that it is  very informative and that it gives the basic information and also tells about the personal aspects of the film.  For example, in the article, they talk about the film and its original form and also about the 1942 re-release. It also tells about how the film and how it has been preserved and saved because critics and film lovers say that it is such a big part of history as far as one of the greatest silent films of all time.       

3.  In relating the article to the film, there really is not much to relate in comparison as to actually sitting down and actually just watching the film. You can read about it on paper, but until you actually watch it, you can only imagine what it is like. If I were to make a comparison to the film and the article, it would be that basically what we read on paper about it is what we basically see and hear on the screen.   

4. The film has great comedy and dramatic moments and I think that those moments are the ones that make these films so great. The plot is somewhat confusing and yet interesting at the same time because you don't know what is going to happen next, until the title cards pop up on the screen and I think that is what makes the film and the entire era and history of silent films so great. The entire film is just so great to watch because even though we are living in a time when computer graphics and amazing visual effects are the norm, sometimes it  is really great to step back in time to a time where none of this existed and that simple filming techniques were the norm and when great silent actors ruled the screen. One thing that can be said about these films is that these silent films are classic films that still can be enjoyed for many generations to come. They should be appreciated because of the fact that these films and the people who had such a significant role are pioneers of film and without them, who knows what film would be like today.