Briefly discuss your reaction to Chaplin’s film, “City Lights.” Has viewing the film changed your opinion about silent (and/or black and white) films? Would you recommend it to a friend to view? Bring your work to class, word processed, next Wednesday. Write between 150 and 200 words.
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“City Lights” is a marvel, Charlie Chaplin a genius. Deceptively simple and full of classic scenes that make us laugh out loud, “City Lights” has an undercurrent of serious intent. I watched the ending twice on Friday, and believe it effectively shows exactly what Chaplin intended as his theme. The flower girl has had her sight restored and works happily at the shop. When she sees the Little Tramp at the window she remarks (cruelly and condescendingly) that “I’ve made a conquest!” Her attitude towards a poor man is one of someone successful in life and heartbreakingly typical; her good fortune (resulting from the Little Tramp’s sacrifice) has made her this way. It is her realization as she gives him the flower and comprehends who he is and what he has sacrificed that leads so naturally to her final statement: “Yes, I can see now.” It is not her eyesight but her ability to see him as a human being. Whether there will be a “happy ending” is irrelevant, for Chaplin has made his point about the indignities and struggles of the poor among us. That it is in black and white and silent, for me, is irrelevant to this film’s power. I would heartily recommend it to anyone as inequality reaches historic heights in the 21st century.
—218 words
City Lights, starring Charles Chaplin is a fascinating piece or art. I was familiar with Chaplin's character. When I was an elementary student the short (30 to 60 minutes) films where broadcast in my home country just before supper time. My mother allowed us children to watch an episode when we were “good” during the day, and had finished our school assignments in time, as a treat. I had been impressed by his innocent character, always getting in trouble and managing to prevail the good. Now as an adult I see much more happening in his films, like critique on the values of society and descriptions of characters. The little man wearing too big shoes, is it a metaphor for the things he stands for? Any way his artistic performance is grandiose. I think a silent black and white film demands a much higher skill set from an actor then modern productions. I most definitely recommend this film to friends.
(160 words)
“City Lights” is not focused on the great world cities, but the people who live there. The focal point of the plot is a poor man, but he is living to the fullest. Once again Chaplin focused on simplicity. His movie portrays nothing, but real life drama, humor, and romance, where love is a purpose; a living force of life. The uniqueness of silent films is that they don’t require translation. Pictures are the universal language. For me watching black and white movies is like watching duality we all live in: good and bad, rich and poor. It’s like watching the extremes, but there’s also a gray – the colour of balance. Even though almost hundred years has passed since the movie premiered, the issues exposed in the film still exist. “City Lights” meets all the requirements of world cinema: excellent acting, perfectly nuanced screenplay, great music, without which individual scenes wouldn’t stay so deeply in my memory. The movie is a timeless masterpiece worth experiencing. I highly recommend it and invite you to watch it.
-179 words
I know and love Charlie Chaplin as actor and enjoy his films. Most of his films are about eternal human values: kindness, compassion, tenderness. Usually, they are funny and kind. The film "City Lights" is comical and touching at the same time. Despite of the fact that this film is silent, it makes an impression and arouses emotions and feelings. Although the actors play (gestures, facial expressions, pantomime) sometimes exaggerated, but it so telling, that I didn't notice the film is silent, and black and white. The Charles Chaplin's genial play causes sincere laugh and profound sympathy to his hero. It is impossible to be indifferent to his shy and responsive Little Tramp, who genuinely desire and trying to help a blind girl. The great actor shows us that a poor little man may have big, generous heart. The last film scenes, when the girl understand that this ragged beggar is the man who gave her the ability to see, especially touching and have deep meaning . The comical film, at the first blush, makes people wonder about life and it's values. I would like my friends and relatives will get pleasure to view this film.
I used to think that watching monochromatic, silent movies were less than interesting. However, the movie, “City Lights”, completely changed my perspective on black and white films. Played by the famous actor Charlie Chaplin, the main character is a thin, homeless, young man. The movie tells a story about his misadventures in his low class life through a series of uncontrollable incidents. His relationships with a poor, blind girl, who he is in love with, and a millionaire, who only “recognizes” him in a drunken condition, help the movie successfully reveal the contrasts between human glory and human hypocrisy. Chaplin’s outstanding and realistic acting is hilarious, and I am also impressed by his abilities of performing the highs and lows of life in such a natural manner. Chaplin’s ability to act is indeed genius and evoke the empathy easily by the viewers. If you want to enjoy a moving masterpiece, I highly recommend the movie, “City Lights”.
--157 words
The story of Chaplin’s film was realism and always happened around us. “City Lights” was accomplished postwar, and it reflected the society at that moment. A majority of people were unable to afford adequate food, shelter and clothing. The people lived in poor economic and condition, and in that society there was extreme disparity between the rich and the poor. Chaplin represented a low class level people in society, many people and he struggled to live, like Charles talked to rich man “be brave, face life” in a film. Although Charles was an unimportant and impecunious person, he used all his strength to help the blind girl. It was a nice ending that the blind girl regarded and thanked him, and she didn’t mind he was a destitute man. I saw many Chaplin’s films when I was younger. I liked a silent black and white film because it was a very simple story, and the theme was very direct and clear. I also wouldn’t be attracted by the colourful and beautiful background. Then the other important reason was the action of characters was emphasized to show the funny meaning. So, I strongly recommend Chaplin’s film to my friends.
--198 words
City Lights is a simple story which expresses itself in so many different ways. There are many themes that give out a broadening view of how life was like and how certain people got treated in different ways. One of the themes was how a tramp got tormented even by children just because he was a poor individual. It’s really a social commentary like in most of Charlie Chaplin’s films on how civilization and society treats poor people badly. Another scene where even though Chaplin’s character was poor, the girl was still able to accept him for who he was and not treat him any differently than if he was rich. In the grand scheme of things it doesn’t really matter whether you’re rich or poor, in a perfect society you should be able to look beneath all the stereotypical undertones and appreciate who someone really is and I think that this film portrayed that perfectly. Now my opinion has changed by watching this silent/ black and white film because it shows that how a visual sense also conveys a lot of meanings without any sound and colorful effects. I would highly recommend it to friends because they would surely enjoy this film like I did.
-190 words
The city lights movie has more to it as a silent movie. I thought it would be hard to understand the story without a word coming out from the characters mouth, but Charlie Chaplin changed my opinion. He really captures my attention with his unique ability to carry out his character by pantomime. It made us understand the movie through the characters body language and movement. Also the occasional pop up phrases and slapstick used help even more. City lights is the story about the tramp falling in – love with the blind flower girl. When the flower girl can see, (by the help of the tramp) only to find out that he is not rich, opposite to what she thought about him when she was blind. As a silent black and white movie; the characters played it more realistically. Charlie Chaplin is a unique comedian of all times. City lights is the movie with great characters and story, which I love to recommend to all my friends.
167 words
I enjoy Chaplin’s films but I never got to watch the entire movie. Until last Friday, I laughed while watching the film, City Lights. It was intelligently made with a moral without being preachy. The moral was delightfully hidden with slap stick and other hilarity Chaplin only knows how to do. The movie was making fun of the rich and how they take life to seriously. At that moment in time no matter how hopeless their situation is they can’t see that tomorrow will be a new day and you can see things more clear. People judge others on what they wear, not the person. In the film City Lights, Chaplin meets a drunkard who is about to kill himself. But the loveable tramp, Charlie comes to the rescue and saves him from drowning. Even that was hilarious! He has a knack for finding the humour in life itself. I would recommend to anyone. Even if you are a person who does not like silent movies, in a few minutes you will forget that you are watching one.
-177 words
My Reaction to “City Light”
I really enjoyed watching “City Light” by Charles Chaplin, the genius of the primary film making industry age. He knew what excatly would make people entertained and at the same time make people think about the social problems existing in those days (such as powerty). City Light is full of social, political, and psychological messages. For exampale, when the film gets the point where Chaplin met the blind girl and loved her, gets motivated to look for a job in order to help her; it is a clear illustration of the necessity of motivation to be a normal person and have a normal life. The property of this film being silent, white and black gives this apportunity to the viewers to have a better concentration on the characters and their motions, actions and behaviours. It was my first time to watch “City Light”, but I can remember every single scene clearly just because it is free of colourful objects which may grap my attention. I liked it and I would strongly sugesst my friends to watch it.
(182 words)
Before I take the “Film and Drama” and “English 11” classes I had poor experience with silent movies. I actually can’t recall that I had watched at least one whole movie. I only had watched several clips (excerpts). They were usually very funny, where Charlie Chaplin “The Tramp” or Buster Keaton were doing something to amuse the audience. While watching the “City Lights,” I couldn’t laugh at all. In this movie I found Little Tramp especially unhappy and worthy of compassion. The ending of the movie “City Lights” reminded me the ending of one novel from the “Paris je t'aime”, where the blind guy said to Natalie Portman: “I see you.” This kind of soul vision shown in the movie is so rare nowadays, when people almost lost their faith in each other and disinterested help. Silent movies reminded me my first visits to cinema theatre, where there was always a piano on a stage, and I was deeply concerned about it’s purpose. I recommend this movie to my friends. It’s a good choice to a retro open-air cinema party.
Charlie Chaplin’s character was quite fascinating to me. In our group we talked about a more modern silent film called "Mr.Bean". I watched Mr. Bean a lot when I was a kid and quite enjoyed it. The setting of "City Lights" largely reflects the economics of the time it was filmed. There is a lot going on in City Lights beyond the goofy antics which Chaplin acts out. It is a really enjoyable film because it is appropriate and understandable to most age levels. The black and white element didn’t bother me as much as I thought it might. I have seen black and white films before and I didn’t really enjoy them, however in this movie I think not having so much to focus on visually, you can subconsciously watch more what is going on in the film rather than be in a sort of daze with the scenery or be manipulated by the producers. I would definitely recommend this movie to my friends.
-164 words
Charlie Chaplin’s character was quite fascinating to me. In our group we talked about a more modern silent film called "Mr.Bean". I watched Mr. Bean a lot when I was a kid and quite enjoyed it. The setting of "City Lights" largely reflects the economics of the time it was filmed. There is a lot going on in City Lights beyond the goofy antics which Chaplin acts out. It is a really enjoyable film because it is appropriate and understandable to most age levels. The black and white element didn’t bother me as much as I thought it might. I have seen black and white films before and I didn’t really enjoy them, however in this movie I think not having so much to focus on visually, you can subconsciously watch more what is going on in the film rather than be in a sort of daze with the scenery or be manipulated by the producers. I would definitely recommend this movie to my friends.
-164 words
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