Considered Charlie Chaplain’s greatest and most ambitious silent film, as well as his personal favorite, The Gold Rush has timeless humor, iconic performances, and a character-driven story about the Alaskan gold fields. Chaplin’s portrayal of the The Lone Prospector seeking his fortune is both comedic and meaningful as it not only showcases his slapstick sequences but also offers heartfelt moments showing the human condition. Depictions of hardships, combined with Chaplin’s iconic Little Tramp character’s dreams of wealth and romance offer insight about and era of social and economic change. Depicting the Alaskan gold rush of the 1890s, the film was released in 1925 and is the fifth highest-grossing silent film. It cost nearly $925,000 to produce, making it the most expensive comedy of the silent-film era. In 1942, he re-edited the film, composed a score and added his own narration. — Keri Moe and Jack Fields

Rated: NR