Exaggeration as a Characteristic of The Gold Rush
When technology had not yet allowed moviemakers to incorporate sound into their creations, they had to rely on imagery to convey the intended message. In this context, everything that viewers could see was used as a tool to imply, indicate, and indirectly point to the meaning behind the scene. Understandably, actors’ emotions and body language played a key role in this process. In order to ensure that the public fully understands the movie director’s message, the actors’ emotions and gestures had to be exaggerated; this tendency is particularly noticeable in comedy movies like The Gold Rush, filmed in 1925 (Rick Deerfield, 2016).
Scene Example Characterized by Exaggeration
For example, in a scene in the hunting hut, after one of the prospectors overpowers a hunter, the main character makes a fuss as if he were the one who won the struggle (Rick Deerfield, 2016). However, he immediately backs down once he is frowned upon by the real victor (Rick Deerfield, 2016, 00:09:15). He sits down, holding a knee in his arms, trying to occupy as little space as possible, and apologetically smiling. Everything indicates a submissive attitude aimed at calming down the annoyed man.
Charlie Chaplin and His Characters
When it comes to silent movies, Charlie Chaplin is among the most well-known actors of the time. Although his skills were undeniably excellent, his main contribution to the film industry lies in his approach to comedy and humor. According to Renée (2016), Chaplin revolutionized the comedy industry by transitioning from superiority theory to making his character relatable to the audience (Renée, 2016). Instead of indulging viewers’ feelings of superiority by humiliating seemingly powerful characters, Chaplin’s iconic character, the Tramp, invoked feelings of empathy and compassion (Renée, 2016).
He was not all-mighty, rich, or awfully smart; he was a simple person caught up in a series of unlucky and hilarious events. For instance, a scene in a bar from The Gold Rush, where the main character dances with the fairest woman present there, illustrates other people’s bewilderment by her choice of a mediocre man (Rick Deerfield, 2016, 00:32:22–00:34:26). Although she chose the Tramp only to avoid the constant advances of another man, the Tramp accepts her invitation and tugs along, oblivious to her intentions. The scene is relatable due to Tramp’s naivety, a trait everyone can remember from childhood.
References
Renée, V. (2016). From novelty to art: How Charlie Chaplin breathed new life into cinema. No Film School. Web.
Rick Deerfield. (2016). The Gold Rush 1925 [Video]. YouTube. Web.