Analyzing Film Genre, Freeze-Frame, and Story Context
The Gold Rush is a slapstick comedy film directed, written, and produced by Charlie Chaplin. I particularly enjoyed the scene during the transition between the beginning and the middle part, where the main character, the Tramp, stands in confusion at the entrance of the dancing hall (Rick Deerfield, 2016, 28:40).
The Tramp himself is hilarious to watch: his hat and cane do not fit with his rugged pants and a woolen boot. The people in the hall are all wearing warm clothes, which implies it is not warm enough inside the building. In addition, the air is filled with smoke, indicating that smoking is allowed there. Overall, the scene is an authentic depiction of a dancing hall somewhere in Alaska at that time.
The Evolution of Public Perception and the American Movie Palace
At the time of their first introduction to the world, the so-called moving pictures varied based on social class. It can be partially attributed to commoners not seeing much variety in their simple lives. In contrast, rich people could afford to travel far and often and were not interested in exotic moving pictures (Doby, 1996). The changes to the film industry that finally managed to draw the upper classes’ attention were the incorporation of actors and a plot into the movie. For instance, The Gold Rush depicts beautiful Alaska scenery, showcasing Chaplin’s acting skills and sophisticated story.
Examining Wide and Close-Up Shots in The Gold Rush
At the moment when Chaplin’s character enters the dancing hall, there is a long shot of the interior. This way, the director can display a new setting where plot events will unfold (Rick Deerfield, 2016, 00:28:02–00:28:11). In the meantime, the shot of Georgia is a fitting example of a close-up (Rick Deerfield, 2016, 00:26:03–00:06:07). Its purpose is to introduce the new character to the audience, which makes displaying the actress at a close distance critical.
Mise-en-Scène and Its Impact on Meaning in The Gold Rush
For the mise-en-scène, I chose the scene depicting the interior of a hunter’s hut. At the beginning of the film, Tramp enters the hut for the first time (Rick Deerfield, 2016, 00:05:12). Compared to the outside, the scene is brighter; it is done so for the viewers to better discern the actor’s emotions. A lot of details point to how cold it is outside. Not only are the actors dressed accordingly, but there is also snow in the background and icicles inside the hut, creating a genuinely freezing atmosphere.
References
Doby, H. (1996). A history of the American Movie Palace. The Atlanta Fox Theatre. Web.
Deerfield, R. (2016). The Gold Rush 1925 [Video]. YouTube. Web.