City Lights is a 1931 American silent romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. The story follows the misadventures of Chaplin's Tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl and develops a turbulent friendship with an alcoholic millionaire. City Lights is considered one of Charlie Chaplin's greatest films and is his ultimate Little Tramp chronicle.
The film achieved new levels of grace, in both physical comedy and dramatic acting. It is a boldly silent film in the talkie era and has a grace that has never been equaled. The film has been praised for its underdog romance and its heartwarming ending. In fact, the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Movies ranked City Lights as the 11th greatest American film of all time.
City Lights has been digitally restored from a 4K film transfer and has a new audio commentary by Charlie Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance. There is also a documentary on the film called "Chaplin Today: City Lights," which features Aardman Animations co-founder Peter Lord. Additionally, there is a new interview program featuring visual effects expert Craig Barron. Archival footage from the production of City Lights is also included, as well as trailers and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Plot
The story follows the misadventures of Chaplin's Tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl and develops a turbulent friendship with an alcoholic millionaire. The film begins with the Tramp sleeping on a monument honoring "Peace and Prosperity," as it is unveiled to the public. He slides down the sculpture and gets in a fight with two men.
The Tramp then meets the blind flower girl and falls in love with her. He tries to help her and her grandmother by buying flowers from them, but he is unable to pay. The Tramp then befriends a drunken millionaire who gives him money to help the girl. The Tramp uses the money to pay for the girl's rent and an operation to restore her sight. However, the millionaire forgets about the Tramp when he sobers up, and the Tramp is arrested for stealing.
The millionaire bails him out of jail, and the film ends with the Tramp and the girl reuniting. The final scene of City Lights is famous for being one of the great emotional moments in the movies. The film is considered one of Charlie Chaplin's greatest films and is his ultimate Little Tramp chronicle. It is a boldly silent film in the talkie era and has a grace that has never been equaled. The film has been praised for its underdog romance and its heartwarming ending.
Trailer
Cast
- Charles Chaplin as A Tramp
- Virginia Cherrill as A Blind Girl
- Florence Lee as The Blind Girl's Grandmother
- Harry Myers as An Eccentric Millionaire
- Al Ernest Garcia as His Butler
- Hank Mann as A Prizefighter
- Jack Alexander as A Doctor
- Albert Austin as A Street Sweeper
- Eddie Baker as A Boxing Match Referee
- Henry Bergman as The Mayor
- Edward Biby as A Nightclub Patron
- Buster Brodie as A Bald Party Guest
- Jeanne Carpenter as A Diner in a Restaurant
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Producer: Charlie Chaplin
Box Office (Gross USA): $50,419
Writer: Charlie Chaplin
Distributor: United Artists
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 30, 1931
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 14, 2015