Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»1421. City Lights (1931)

    1421. City Lights (1931)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on July 18, 2016 1931, 6 - 7.9, 80-89 mins, Comedy, Drama, Jul 16, Movies Of 2016, Review, Romance, United States
    7.9 Heartfelt and hilarious
    • Acting 8.0
    • Directing 8.0
    • Story 7.8
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee

    Director: Charlie Chaplin

    Running Time: 87 mins


    City Lights is an American film following The Tramp as he befriends an eccentric millionaire, and sets about finding a way to pay for a blind woman with whom he has fallen in love to cure her.

    This is regularly hailed as Chaplin’s greatest film of all, but for me, it’s not quite on par with Modern Times. It’s without a doubt an impressive and worthy classic of cinema, with some brilliantly innovative comedy throughout that’s still just as funny today, as well as a sweet and heartwarming story that anyone can fall in love with, but I just felt it was lacking a certain depth that, comparably, was at the centre of Modern Times.

    However, without wishing to make too many comparisons, I did really enjoy City Lights. Above all, it’s Charlie Chaplin’s iconic and faultless performance as The Tramp that makes it such a fun watch. Still stuck in the silent era three years after sound had exploded onto Hollywood screens, it’s a real marvel that Chaplin was able to make such a confident and hilarious film in what was a dying breed of film.

    But that’s exactly what he does. Whenever he’s on screen, either falling over, doing his silly walk, or sweetly trying to do all he can for the woman he loves, Charlie Chaplin is excellent. He brings a wonderful humanity to The Tramp throughout, something that really helps to make the story a lot more engaging than I initially expected, but above all, he’s really funny.

    I may not have been laughing quite as much as Modern Times, but there are still some hugely funny set pieces throughout City Lights. Although not all perfect, I was laughing on a very consistent basis at slapstick that just doesn’t get made nowadays, for fear of being stupid, but Chaplin’s ability to pull such silliness off time and time again is testament to his brilliance in this film.

    What’s more is that the film brings a very heartfelt story to the table alongside its manic comedy. Again, it’s not always quite as emotional and powerful as Modern Times (given that it doesn’t have quite the same depth with regards to a wider message), but The Tramp’s unending determination to do whatever it takes to cure the woman he loves is undeniably sweet and heartwarming, whilst the film also impresses in two scenes with staggering emotional power, even if the rest of the film doesn’t quite match that.

    Overall, City Lights is an excellent film. In my view, it’s not Chaplin’s best, simply because it’s a little too simple and thin at times, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable and pleasant watch. Chaplin is as hilarious as ever as The Tramp, and the film’s romance is absolutely wonderful to witness throughout, so that’s why City Lights gets a 7.9 from me.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.0
    Review
    September 9, 20140

    684. Chico And Rita (2010)

    8.1
    Review
    January 23, 20150

    829. Dr. No (1962)

    8.0
    Review
    January 1, 20160

    1201. Jack Reacher (2012)

    8.0
    Review
    February 1, 20200

    2841. Queen & Slim (2019)

    9.6
    Review
    January 8, 20150

    810. Hot Fuzz (2007)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.