Summary
The Tramp befriends a blind girl selling flowers who mistakes him for a wealthy man. After befriending a Millionaire on a bender, the Tramp realizes the friendship allows him the money to take care of her if, that is, he can maintain that difficult friendship.
Context
I’ve seen a couple Chapin films, my favorite being “The Kid.” I won’t say I’m a big fan of his, though I generally enjoy his films. I can’t say I was super excited to watch “City Lights,’ but I have heard that it is widely regarded as his best silent film so I figured if there was any film of his I would like better than “The Kid,” then this would be it.
My Thoughts
To be honest, the film started a bit slow for me. The opening gag ran a bit long especially for a character that is as established as the Tramp (Charles Chaplin, “The Gold Rush”). Perhaps if this is your first exposure to The Tramp, you might not know that he is homeless, broke, not a drunk, but generally naive and a bit brainless and easily confused at times. The first scene introduces these character traits but if you know them already the gag is not especially funny and the scenes drags a bit.
After this the movie begins proper with The Tramp meeting ablind girl who is selling flowers on the street and also begins a friendship with a drunk millionaire who is attempting to commit suicide. In a sense, the entire movie is the Tramp’s attempt to save both of them through his friendship and by being a sort of Robin Hood, not stealing but being given money from the rich man to give to the poor girl.
As you know, I try not to spoil the movie for my readers but this is what sets Chaplin apart as a filmmaker. His heart. His movies are never mean spirited or pessimistic. Indeed, they were made in a day that was plagued by such things in people’s everyday life. Is it any wonder he was the huge success and celebrity that he was. His belief that the poor had value, that kindness and brotherhood were high virtues, and that the wealthy among us had fuller lives when they did good are core to his ethos and especially present in this film.
One of my favorite idiosyncrasies with how we think of homeless people and how he saw them is that the Tramp is not a drinker and when he does have money always gives most of it away leaving a little in reserve, until he goes to walk away and his empathy causes him to give even his reserve away.
He is a classic example of the religious tradition of The Fool, who does so much good that he is not only destitute but a victim of his own naive understanding of the world. It doesn’t occur to him that people should have a big problem with him sleeping under the cover tarp on a brand new monument because it doesn’t occur to him that this monument is not for everyone in the city, including the homeless.
I’m sure as usual, I am reading more into this than is truly there but from what I do know of Chaplin he did seem to care quite deeply for people and that sort of care cannot help but come out in his films. This is what makes the Tramp so charming. It’s not his mannerisms and goofiness, though they can be endearing.
In this particular film the jokes and gags are there aplenty, from a boxing match which I found to be the films highlight, to a schizophrenic relationship with a millionaire who loves the Tramp during the party filled evening but once the sun dawns cannot even remember who the Tramp is.
There is certainly a lot to genuinely belly laugh over in this film and a lot to warm your heart. How often can you say that about modern films? It’s why Chaplin will ever be film’s first celebrity star.
Review Written By: