THE GOLD RUSH (Charles Chaplin, USA 1925) Slapstick and anarchy in snow-covered chaos: the tramp (Charles Chaplin) travels to the West in winter to try his hand at gold prospecting. Driving snow leads him to take refuge in a remote hut, where he meets an escaped convict and a gold prospector who has just hit the jackpot. The treasure soon becomes a contested commodity and a liability for the one who originally found it. For his part, vagabond Charlie must be on his guard against the dangers posed by ravenous crooks and bears, and also save himself from steep cliffs and badly secured huts. But in an Alaska gripped by gold fever, all he’s really looking for is a heart of gold. (mg) (10.12.)
