City Lights (1931) | The Film Index

Film Record

City Lights

Country: United States
Release: 6 FEB 1931
Runtime: 87 min
Original Language: English

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A tramp falls in love with a beautiful blind flower girl. His on-and-off friendship with a wealthy man allows him to be the girl's benefactor and suitor.

Why It's Here

Produced after the advent of synchronized sound, Charlie Chaplin’s refusal to use spoken dialogue makes this film a masterclass in the absolute zenith of physical pantomime and visual storytelling. It demonstrates how visual comedy can carry profound emotional pathos without spoken dialogue.

What to Watch For: The precision of Chaplin's physical blocking and his use of sound effects as comedic counterpoint rather than dialogue (e.g., the swallowing of the whistle). Pay attention to the final close-up. Critics and filmmakers often single it out as a landmark example of screen acting, capturing a shifting mix of hope, heartbreak, and realization in a single look.

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City Lights

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Behind The Scenes

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