The Gold Rush

This slapstick comedy celebrates its centenary this year. Chaplin’s beloved Tramp finds himself in Klondike, this time as a determined gold prospector. There, he faces hunger, poverty, and harsh weather conditions – but also a chance to strike it rich and win the heart of the feisty, beautiful Georgia. Wearing his worn-out bowler hat, oversized trousers, and iconic, awkward shoes, Chaplin wrestles with bears, blizzards, and the absurdities of reality itself. Sweet and bitter in equal measure, The Gold Rush continues to entertain, move, and captivate audiences, standing as a prime example of Chaplin’s signature humor blended with a touch of melancholy. Although most scenes were shot in a studio, where the crew built a wooden cabin and a miniature mountain range, some sequences were filmed in the snowy wilderness of the Sierra Nevada. There, with the help of hundreds of extras, Chaplin recreated the historic image of gold prospectors ascending the Chilkoot Pass. It was The Gold Rush that Chaplin hoped would be his most enduring legacy.

Daria Sienkiewicz

Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) was one of cinema’s greatest pioneers, a master of silent film and a visionary in comedy. His character, the Tramp, became a symbol of the era, while classics like The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), and The Great Dictator (1940) combined humor with sharp social critique. As a director, writer, and composer, he maintained full creative control, crafting timeless works. His influence on film language and comedy remains unmatched, inspiring generations of filmmakers.