"City Lights" has been billed as Charlie Chaplin's masterpiece. I can't agree with that description, as several other Chaplin films that I have seen, made both before and after "City Lights", appear to be clearly better.
Chaplin again plays his tramp character, the one with the baggy pants, cane, and black hat. He falls for a blind but sweet flower girl. He befriends a millionaire (Harry Myers) who is sour when sober, but generous when drunk. Chaplin attempts to use the rich man's wealth for the benefit of the flower girl (Virginia Cherrill).
The tramp, as always, gets into trouble in "City
Lights". His adventures aren't as interesting and
amusing as in some other Chaplin films,
especially "The Gold Rush" and "Modern Times".
The exception is a hilarious boxing scene, which
has a desperate-for-funds tramp avoiding a quick
knockout with various clever gags. But some other
scenes don't work as well, such as the tramp
accidentally swallowing a whistle and thereafter
making uncontrollable whistle noises.
Cherrill was an unknown when cast for "City
Lights". Chaplin discovered her at a boxing
match, where she was in the next seat. Cherill
was probably a very nice person, but she lacked
the energy that other heroines in Chaplin films
had, such as Georgia Hale or Paulette Goddard.
There may be some spoilers in the next paragraphs.
I find it difficult to believe that an operation
could restore the flower girl's sight, especially
in 1931. When she can see, and realizes that a
tramp has been her benefactor instead of a
wealthy man, the film ends on that bittersweet
moment. This emotion does not suit the tramp's
character, who always has his ups and downs but
never loses his spirit.
A recurrent theme in "City Lights" is separation
and reunion of the tramp with Myers. At night,
Myers drinks heavily and regards the tramp as his
best friend, the tramp having saved his life. But
at dawn, when Myers is sober, he has lost both
his sense of humor and his memory of the tramp.
The millionaire character is hard to accept as
anything but a plot device for Chaplin to be
alternately rich and poor while courting Cherrill.
"City Lights" remains a good movie with many
clever moments, but its reputation as one of
Chaplin's best films may not be deserved. (66/100)
This Charlie Chaplin masterpiece tells a bittersweet tale about a blind girl who is restored to sight with the help of that quintessential urban misfi...More at Family Video
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