Charlie Chaplin in the gold rush - 1889 (1925)

THE STORY OF "THE GOLD RUSH THE Lone Prospector, a valiant weakling, seeks fame and fortilne with the sturdy men who marched across Chilkoot Pass into the great unknown in the mad rush for hidden gold in the Alaskan wilderness. Lonely, his soul fired by a great ambition, his inoffensive patience and bis ill-chosen garb alike make him the target for the buffoonery of his comrades and the merciless rinors of the frozen North. Caught in a terrific blizzard, the icy clutches of the storm almost claim him when he stumbles onto the cabin of Black Larson, renegade. Larson, unpitingly, is thrust- ing him from the door back into the arms of death when Fate, which preserves the destines of its simple children, appears in the person of Big Jim McKa\. The renegade is sub- dued by McKay in a terrific battle, and the Lone Prospector ond his rescuer occupy the cabin while their un- willing host is thrust forth to obtain food. Starvationalmost claims the two until a bear in- trudes and is killed to supply their larder. The storm abated, the two depart, Lonely for the nearest town and McKay to his hid- den mine, the richest in Alaska. Mcka\ finds the renegade in possession of his prop- erty and in the battle that ensues falls under a blow from a shovel wielded by Larson, who flees from the scene to be swept to his death in an avalanche. McKay recovers consciousness but has lost his memory from the blow. Meanwhile Lonely arrives in one of the mushroom cities of the gold trail. Seeking companionship, he timidly invades the dancehall, center of frivolity of the village of the snow. His atten- tion soon becomes fixed on Georgia, queen of the dancehall girls. She is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. It is love at first sight, but nevertheless poignantly genuine. In his pathetic adoration, he braves the gibes of the dancehall roughs to feast his lovelorn eyes. But Georgia, ignorant of the heart-yearnings of our hero, has her affections for the time being centered on Jack Cameron, Beau Brummel of the camp. In a moment of pique with Cameron, she chooses Lonely as the least pretentious figure in the hall to dance with her. Lonely, believing his affections reciprocated, is transcended into a seventh heaven of bliss. Georgia, out larking with her girl companions of the dancehall, accidentally chooses the cabin of Lonely as a ifl LONELY AND HIS PARTNER, BIG JIM MCKAY backstop for a snowballing contest. Hearing the excite- ment, Lonely opens the door to receive a snowball in the face. Apoligies follow and he invites them into the cabin. After much good natured banter, the girls accept an invitation to have New Year's dinner with Lonely the following night, thereby giving him a tremendous thrill of anticipation. But when the appointed hour arrives, his guests fail to put in an appearance to share the meal he has prepared for them. Falling asleep he awakens near midnight with the cruel realization that he has been the object of a cruel jest. He walks disconsol- ately to the dancehall, there to see Georgia in vivacious conversation with his rival, Camer- on. The lover's quar- rel of the night before cold, Georgia writes Cameron an endearing note of apology. As a last cruel jest, Cameron, hands him the endearing note from Georgia. believing it written for him. the unhappy liner starts feverishly searching the dancehall for the girl, when Big Jim McKay, his memory partially restored, enters. Big Jim's only thought is to find the location of the cabin in order to locate the lost mine. He recognizes Lone- ly and seizes him, shouting to lead the way to the cabin and they both will be millionaires. But his lovelorn friend at this moment discovers the girl on the balcony, and breaking away, darts up the stairs to embrace her and declare his love to the astonishment of the girl, as well as the crowd. Linceremoniously dragged from the hall by McKay, Lonely shouts to Georgia that he will soon return and claim her, a millionaire. A year has passed and Big Jim and his partner, Lonely, are returning to the States surrounded with all that wealth can provide. Georgia has disappeared and Lonely's search for her has been all in vain. Fhe fame of the strike of the partners has spread and newspapermen board the liner for interviews. Lonely good-naturedly consents to don his old habiliments for a news photograph. Tripping in the companionway, he falls downstairs into the arms of Georgia, on her way back to the states as a steerage passenger. The reporters sense a romance and ask who the girl is. Lonely whispers to Georgia, who nods assent. Arm in arm, they pose for pictures, while the reporters enthusias- tically exclaim: "What a great Story this will make!"