Who’d ever imagine that a clip from a 1925 silent film would get over 2 million YouTube hits? Well that’s the record for the ballet scene from The Gold Rush, our evening course opening film next Tuesday, October 12th. In the famous scene Chaplin, as the hapless gold prospector, does a ballet routine with two bread rolls and forks, before his imaginary dinner guests. Johnny Depp fans will recognise it from the homage paid in his film, Benny and Joon or even Simpson-ites will remember Gradma Simpson’s re-enactment. Better to see the original, though, and a rare opportunity on the big screen too for our course.
NCAD lecturer James Armstrong who will talk after the film about Chaplin and other silent comics like Buster Keaton believes that The Gold Rush is one of the Tramp’s finest and most tender roles. ‘With Chaplin you get laughs and tears, as well as an insight into the art of the silent master. It’s a film of glorious moments. The Tramp goes off in search of gold, but finds love instead, and in 1920s America that was making a point." As good a metaphor today as any…
Our four-week evening course, Reel Chancers, starts on Tuesday, October 12th.
Alicia McGivern
Head of Education
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