The Gold Rush (Which version)

[gagman66]

Which version of Chaplin's THE GOLD RUSH will air this evening? The original, or the frustrating 1942 re-issue? Does anyone know? Although TCM has run a longer version before in the non re-mastered KILLIAM shows print (produced way back in 1969!) It too is only a hybrid of the original motion picture. Why can't TCM run the original 1925 release? In 1953 the copyright of the 1925 version of THE GOLD RUSH lapsed and Chaplin lost the rights to it. Since than dozens of prints in varying degrees of completeness and clarity have been put together in "public domain" circles.

 

Finally just with-in the last few years, Kevin varying has assembled a version that is probably about as close as were ever going to get (save for a Carl Davis orchestral score) to how the film first appeared back in 1925. Sadly chances are that at least some footage has been lost for ever. What remains has recently been restored by Brownlow as much a possible to it's former length and pictorial quality It is now out on a two-disc set with the '42 revision from Time-Warner Home Video. However,it's my understanding that TCM for some bazaar reason is "prohibited" from airing this version! I hope this is wrong, but if so, Why is this?

 

THE OFTEN QUESTIONED (AND DESERVEDLY SO)1942 VERSION WITH CHAPLIN'S MUNDANE NARRATIVE COMMENTARY RUNNING THROUGHOUT VERY SIMPLY IS NOT THE GOLD RUSH! AMAZING THAT "THE MASTER OF PANTOMIME" RUINED ONE OF HIS GREATEST FILMS BY TALKING TO MUCH"! I thought Chaplin understood that his "Little Tramp" must never speak!" Additionally some twenty minuets of footage is missing, and several out-takes were actually substituted in this version. Even the ending is different! The most noteworthy change has Charlie picking up a note from "Georgia" that is intended for him. In the original film the note of apology wasn't meant for the Tramp at all but rather the ladies man 'Big Jim" instead! This is a significant alteration! This sequence and several others are significantly more effective in their entirety! In effect, the 1942 and 1925 versions of THE GOLD RUSH practically look like two different films!

 

[harlowkeatongirl]

Hi Gagman66,

 

Yep, they showed the nerdy version. lolol

 

I was kind of watching/listening last night while I was doing dishes and stuff... that's the only reason I enjoyed it. Because I wasn't able to keep my eyes on the screen, the narrative kept me clued in on what part was on. But still, they should've aired the original. It's just not a real silent film with the narration.

 

And as far as Charlie never letting the Tramp speak --- I think that was an error. I thought Charlie had a sweet charming voice and I think it only would've endeared audiences to The Tramp even more. It would've endeared me.

 

But at the same time, Charlie did sort of cling to that character. Maybe he should've just created a talkie muse... retired The Tramp and started fresh with a recurring speaking character. All the characters he ever did were great. I don't know why he thought audiences wouldn't respond to a new one.

 

 

[littletramplover]

The silent movie Show People says a great deal about this issue: Mr. Chaplin makes a cameo, but goes unrecognized by Peggy (Marion Davies) because he is outside of his little tramp costume. This image of the tramp is the image that people accepted as Charlie Chaplin. It is highly unlikely that any other creation by Chaplin would have proven successful with the public because to the public mass, The Tramp and Mr. Charles Chaplin were one in the same. And that is the image that the public responded to.

 

Besides, I doubt Chaplin would have found it at all plausible to start from scratch, so to speak, and create just another character when he had already created someone who, well, let me just quote what critic Alexander Wolcott said: ?Chaplin has created only one character. But in that one with his preposterous innocent gallantry in a world of gross goliaths, is the finest gentleman of our time.? Kind of a hard act to follow, you know?

 

And even though his speaking voice very well may have endeared him to the public? it would have been a limited public. The magic of the Tramp was his universal appeal. There was a thread about this a while back, and we talked about the fact that his character was identifiable with Brits, French, Germans, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Greeks, Italians and every other nationality, because of the fact that he was not handicapped by being given a speaking language. Having the Tramp speak would have put an end to the simplicity of that global appeal. I?ve always liked the way Mr. Chaplin himself explained it thusly:

 

?I mused over the possibility of making a sound film, but the thought sickened me, for I realized I could never achieve the excellence of my silent pictures. It would mean giving up my tramp character entirely. Some people suggested that the tramp might talk. This was unthinkable, for the first word he ever uttered would transform him into another person. Besides, the matrix out of which he was born was as mute as the rags he wore? I had thought of possible voices for the tramp, whether he should speak in monosyllables or just mumble. But it was no use. If I talked I would become just like any other comedian.?

 

And so, what we have is a farewell to the classic Tramp in Modern Times, and in The Great Dictator we have Chaplin retiring the image by making a talking picture.

 

And about the Gold Rush: I honestly prefer the original 1925 version myself (it?s the version that made me fall in love with Chaplin) but like you Shyla, I think there are some advantages to having Chaplin?s narrative: I have a friend who DOES NOT like silents, but was okay with watching the Gold Rush re-issue because of the spoken narration. (Besides, the music is great.) Chaplin re-issued the film in 1942 in an effort to ?modernize? the film. The length was cut so that it could be shown in the double-bill cinema programs of the time. (This was the era of the double feature, mind you!) The cut scenes really do negatively impact Georgia?s development in the film, and I think it?s sad that the ending was changed as it was.

 

You guys gotta remember that in the 1940s, people didn?t view silent films as precious classics as we (thankfully) do today. They were viewed as just old, out of date and antiquarian. So, adding speaking narration to it would, in Chaplin?s mind, make it appealing to a new generation of film audiences. (and we all know how very much Chaplin needed his audience!!) Few silent films had been reissued since the sound revolution and Chaplin?s decision to do something like this was dangerous indeed. Thank goodness he did, for having the film in re-release did inspire a new generation? including Mr. Richard Attenborough. (Can you imagine? A world without ?Ghandi? or ?Cry Freedom??!?)

 

As for the reason why TCM refuses to show the restored 1925 version? You got me. (Maybe they, like me, are really turned off by the restored version?s godawful score!!! Please, I could have done a better job!!)

 

(And Shyla... I've always prefered Buster's voice myself! I have an ***adorable*** photo of Buster with him holding a daisy. Do you have it? If not I'll send it to you!)

 

[harlowkeatongirl]

> (And Shyla... I've always prefered Buster's voice

> myself! I have an ***adorable*** photo of Buster

> with him holding a daisy. Do you have it? If not I'll

> send it to you!)

 

Hi LittleTrampLover,

 

LOL Buster's voice is so unlike what he looks like onscreen, isn't it? It's more "gruff."

 

And yes, please, send me the photo! I'll print it out and put tape it to my workstation at work and remove all doubt that I'm a complete weirdo.

 

And I disagree w/Mr. Chaplin. Voice may have transformed The Tramp into a BETTER person. Listening to him talk in "The Great Dictator" and that cute little voice he did. And then those scenes where he revives the Tramp outfit a little when he goes on the date w/Hannah... that made me totally able to see The Tramp talking. I think it would've made The Tramp better.

 

I think if anything, done the right way, would've created a lot of great publicity for Charlie. "The Tramp Speaks!" Isn't that cooler than the Garbo headline?

 

[littletramplover]

What? A wierdo?? Nooo... (This coming from a girl who has Chas wallpaper on her laptop!!)

 

Well... lots of people at the time of the sound revolution told Mr. Chaplin the same things you've said, and I do like getting to hear the Tramp speak. ("15 cents please" is a terrific line!)

 

But... I believe that having the tramp in speaking films would probably have driven Mr. Chaplin crazy, since he would always have felt that it would be better if it were in pantomime. (Him being the unrelenting perfectionist he was.) I'm actually glad he didn't make speaking Little Tramp films. He left the tramp silent-- and in that way I feel the character speaks volumes more about love and about humanity than any sound picture would have afforded him.

 

(by the way-- you run the busterkeaton society page? I have visited that page for years and think it's marvelous! Perhaps you could furnish me with some suggestions on mine???)