City Lights
United States • 1931
Director
#680Criterion Collection →Synopsis
CITY LIGHTS, the most cherished film by Charlie Chaplin, is also his ultimate Little Tramp chronicle. The writer-director-star achieved new levels of grace, in both physical comedy and dramatic poignancy, with this silent tale of a lovable vagrant falling for a young blind woman who sells flowers on the street (a magical Virginia Cherrill) and mistakes him for a millionaire. Though this Depression-era smash was made after the advent of sound, Chaplin remained steadfast in his love for the expressive beauty of the pre-talkie form. The result was the epitome of his art and the crowning achievement of silent comedy.
Synopsis
CITY LIGHTS, the most cherished film by Charlie Chaplin, is also his ultimate Little Tramp chronicle. The writer-director-star achieved new levels of grace, in both physical comedy and dramatic poignancy, with this silent tale of a lovable vagrant falling for a young blind woman who sells flowers on the street (a magical Virginia Cherrill) and mistakes him for a millionaire. Though this Depression-era smash was made after the advent of sound, Chaplin remained steadfast in his love for the expressive beauty of the pre-talkie form. The result was the epitome of his art and the crowning achievement of silent comedy.
Criterion Closet Picks
(10)
Credits
Crew
DirectorCharlie Chaplin
WriterHarry Crocker, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Carr
CinematographerGordon Pollock, Roland Totheroh
ComposerCharlie Chaplin
EditorCharlie Chaplin, Willard Nico
ProducerCharlie Chaplin
Cast
Charlie Chaplinas A Tramp
Virginia Cherrillas A Blind Girl
