City Lights - A 1831 Silent Film Directed by and Starring Charles Chaplin- 1 Hour 21 Minutes

 

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"If if only one of Charles Chaplin's films could be preserved, “City Lights” (1931) would come the closest to representing all the different notes of his genius. It contains the slapstick, the pathos, the pantomime, the effortless physical coordination, the melodrama, the bawdiness, the grace, and, of course, the Little Tramp--the character said, at one time, to be the most famous image on earth.

When he made it, three years into the era of sound, Chaplin must have known that “City Lights” might be his last silent film; he considered making a talkie, but decided against it, and although the film has a full musical score (composed by Chaplin) and sound effects, it has no speech. Audiences at the time would have appreciated his opening in-joke; the film begins with political speeches, but what emerges from the mouths of the speakers are unintelligible squawks--Chaplin's dig at dialogue. When he made “Modern Times” five years later, Chaplin allowed speech onto the soundtrack, but once again the Tramp remained silent except for some gibberish." from Roger Ebert 

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-city-lights-1931

City Lights (1931) is a silent romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. It tells the story of a lovable tramp, played by Chaplin himself, who falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) and tries to help her regain her sight. Despite being released during the Great Depression, the film is a beautiful and touching story about hope, resilience, and the power of love. 

He embarks on a series of hilarious and often dangerous exploits to raise money for her to undergo a sight-restoring operation.

Along the way, he develops a turbulent friendship with a drunken millionaire and faces numerous hardships, showcasing both the comedy and pathos of his life.

Although sound films were already gaining popularity, Chaplin chose to stick with the silent format for City Lights, believing it allowed for a broader emotional palette.

The film's score, composed by Chaplin himself, features the hauntingly beautiful "La Violetera," a leitmotif for the flower girl.