Product Details

• Actors: Sam Allen, Henry Bergman, W.S. Dobson, John Eagown, Georgia Hale
• Format: Black & White, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302561817
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,444 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

After the box-office failure of his first dramatic film, A Woman of Paris, Charlie Chaplin brooded over his ensuing comedy. "The next film must be an epic!" he recalled in his autobiography. "The greatest!" He found inspiration, paradoxically, in stories of the backbreaking Alaskan gold rush and the cannibalistic Donner Party. These tales of tragedy and endurance provided Chaplin with a rich vein of comic possibilities. The Little Tramp finds himself in the Yukon, along with a swarm of prospectors heading over Chilkoot Pass (an amazing sight restaged by Chaplin in his opening scenes, filmed in the snowy Sierra Nevadas). When the Tramp is trapped in a mountain cabin with two other fortune hunters, Chaplin stages a veritable ballet of starvation, culminating in the cooking of a leathery boot. Back in town, the Tramp is smitten by a dance-hall girl (Georgia Hale), but it seems impossible that she could ever notice him. The Gold Rush is one of Chaplin's simplest, loveliest features; and despite its high comedy, it never strays far from Chaplin's keen grasp of loneliness. In 1942, Chaplin reedited the film and added music and his own narration for a successful rerelease. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This film must be an epic!, February 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gold Rush/Pay Day [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have this version and a rather old VHS silent version which I found in a bargain bin. But I like this better for 2 reasons; 1. On the silent version the captions go by so fast I have to pause the tape to read most of them. 2. It is more interesting and complete with Charlie narrating the film. So get this one instead of the silent version for better picture and continuity. P.S. DO NOT BUY THE DVD OF THIS, IT REALLY IS A WASTE OF YOUR MONEY!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHAPLIN'S MASTERPIECE, March 25, 2000

By 

John McMinn (Miami,Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gold Rush/Pay Day [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This film may be the funniest movie ever made! If you haven't seen it,buy it now!I had the priv- elage of seeing this film on the silver screen. This video edition has Chaplin's own spoken narration and musical score.The shoe-eating and cabin scenes are brilliant!"Pay Day" is one of Charlie's best short films.This film is actually about something(unlike most 90s movies).If you like this movie also see "City Lights" and "Modern Times".An all time classic!Not to be missed!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *****GREAT*****, October 17, 1999

By 

AfSucSker - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gold Rush/Pay Day [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This famous Chaplin feature is truly great (like most of them are). The Gold Rush is the definition of a great film. It is sad, funny, and it makes people feel good no matter what. Just touching and beautiful. See every Chaplin film you can.