City Lights
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
City Lights is a 1931 comedy film directed by Charlie Chaplin, starring Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill, Florence Lee. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
City Lights is a 1931 American synchronized sound romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects. The story follows the misadventures of Chaplin's Tramp as he falls in love with a blind woman (Virginia Cherrill) and develops a turbulent friendship with an alcoholic millionaire (Harry Myers).
Although talking pictures (or films with recorded dialogue) were on the rise when Chaplin started developing the script in 1928, he decided to continue working without dialogue only incorporating sound with the use of a synchronized musical score with sound effects.
Production
Written by Charlie Chaplin and Harry Crocker, the film was produced by Charles Chaplin Productions. Charlie Chaplin composed the score. Gordon Pollock handled the cinematography. The film runs 87 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $1,500,000, City Lights grossed $4,250,000 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
The film's influence spread across the century; its narrative and tone echo in much later cinema.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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