Angel Coburn
23 October 2016
City Lights
1. Director: Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin: The Tramp
Virginia Cherrill: A Blind Girl
2. Plot Synopsis
A prized monument is unveiled to only reveal a sleeping Tramp atop the statue. The Tramp is then outcasted by society. Wandering through the city, the Tramp runs into relentlessly rude paper boys and tries to avoid a nearby policeman. He stumbles through a waiting car only to find a girl selling flowers on the other side. Upon purchasing a flower, the Tramp discovers the girl is blind.When a nearby car door slams shut, the Flower Girl thinks the Tramp has left without getting his change. She believes he is a wealthy gentlemen. Later on, the Tramp encounters a drunken man prepared to commit suicide because his wife has left him. The Tramp convinces the man not to commit suicide. The man invites the Tramp to his house and it is revealed that he is a millionaire. The Millionaire tries to shoot himself, however is saved again by the Tramp. The two change clothes and spend a night out on the town. As they drive home in the morning, they pass the Flower Girl. Still drunk, the Millionaire gives the Tramp money, which he uses to purchase all of the girls flowers. The Tramp takes the girl home, however when he arrives back at the Millionaire’s house, he has then sobered up. The Millionaire has forgotten who the Tramp is and has ordered his butler to turn away visitors. This cycle happens again – the Millionaire gets drunk, runs into the Tramp, they party, the Millionaire wakes up, and finally the Tramp is kicked out again. After this, the Millionaire leaves for Europe. Later on, The Tramp goes to visit the girl and finds out she ill and her grandmother is left to make ends meet. Wanting to help, the Tramp gets a job as a street cleaner. During a work break, the Tramp goes to visit the girl, bringing her groceries, and mentions talk of a doctor who can cure the blind and will help the poor for free. While the Tramp puts away the groceries he discovers and eviction letter. Worried and determined to help out, the Tramp returns to work quickly, only to discover he has been laid off. A nearby man hears news of the Tramps situation and sorts a deal with him, resulting in the Tramp getting involved in a boxing match for money. However, the boxer finds out the police are out for his arrest and he flees town leaving the Tramp to fight a stronger component. The Tramp loses despite his best efforts. Still in desperate need for money, the Tramp runs into the drunk Millionaire who has recently returned from Europe. The two head to the Millionaires house. Unknowingly, two burglars wait. The Tramp mentions the need of the Flower Girl and the Millionaire gives him more money. However, the burglars knock the Millionaire unconscious and the Tramp gets blamed for the crime. After outsmarting the police, the Tramp hurries over to the Flower Girls home and gives her the money from the Millionaire. The Tramp is caught and put in jail. As time passes, the Tramp is released, wandering the city very defeated. He passes by a flower shop and recognizes the Flower Girl who can now see. Feeling sorry for the Tramp, the Flower Girl emerges and gives him a flower only to remember him by his touch. The two share a moment, looking into each other’s eyes.
3. Theme:
People are defined by their character and actions and not their outward appearance.
Society thought so poorly of the Tramp. Nearly everyone he encountered teased him. However, the blind Flower Girl couldn’t see his outward appearance so she never judged him by his looks however by his actions and his character. Also, the drunken Millionaire never judged the Tramp for his appearance whilst in that state. It was only when he had sobered up had he realized that there was a significant class difference and that he wanted nothing to do with him. The Flower Girl was blind and the Millionaire had warped vision, however they still saw the Tramp for who he truly was. A kind and caring person. Society did not give the Tramp a chance to showcase who he really was.
4. Symbols:
Considerably, the Tramp is a Christ-like/Savior figure. For instance, the first time the drunk Millionaire attempts suicide, the Tramp strongly expresses the importance, beauty, and value of life by reminding the Millionaire: “tomorrow the birds will sing”. An attempt to instill hope in the man. He then goes on to save the Millionaire each time he attempts suicide. Also, the Tramp does everything in the best interest of the people he encounters. For instance, he gets two different jobs to help the Flower Girl and her grandmother make ends meet, even when it comes at his expense. In addition, the Tramp also takes the fall for a crime he knows he did not commit. These characteristics- compassion, selflessness, and humbleness- are similar to those of Christ and viewers can see similarities in the Tramp.
Another symbol would be a small white flower. From the initial flower the Tramp receives from the girl, to any flower he spots on the ground that is similar, the Tramp cherishes as it reminds him of his encounter with the girl. Especially towards the end of the film when the Tramp sees a white flower on the ground, he spends some time gazing at it. One could also argue that even though the film is in black and white, the flower is still pretty light, presumably white and relate that to the pureness of the blind Flower Girl and just her kindness.
5. Camera Choices:
Long Shot:
There were not too many noticeable long shots. However, arguably, when the drunk Millionaire is prepared to kill himself, the camera zooms out to reveal the location of where he is, and viewers can see the Tramp coming down the stairs. So, essentially, the setting has been established for that scene but it is not noticeably and definitively, a long shot. Viewers can see other establishing shots when the Tramp goes to visit the Flower Girl at her home- the location is established. Long shots are definitely used more whenever the Tramp is with the Millionaire, most likely to produce the effect that the Tramp and the Millionaire are polar opposites and are distant as they are from two differing worlds.
Medium Shot:
A noticeable medium shot is towards the finale when the Tramp recognizes that the Flower girl can now see. As he is holding a small white flower he found in the street, he reminisces on his time with the Flower girl, only to turn around and be about eye level with her. In the shot, viewers can only see the Tramp from waist up as he gazes goofily at the Flower Girl. There are more medium shots than definitive long shots. In addition, whenever the Tramp and the Flower Girl are together there are more medium shots. Most likely to develop the intimacy between the characters.
Close-up Shot:
A perfect example of a close-up is when the Flower Girl, now with the ability to see, giggles at the Tramp angrily dealing with the newsboys. This shot just establishes her sweetness and tenderness although she is giggling at the Tramp. However, now viewers know that she has the ability to see.
Low-Angle:
I do not recall any low angles in this film. Especially considering this time period, I am not entirely sure that camera equipment then would allow a low-angle shot.
High- Angle:
Similar to low-angle, there were no high-angle shots.
Dolly or Crane:
A arguably, noticeable, dolly would be when the Tramp walks towards the Flower Girl who is walking away from the Millionaire’s mansion. The camera follows the Tramp horizontally as he gets closer to the Flower Girl. Dolly and crane shots did not occur much throughout the film.
6. Choices Made By the Editor
This films editing was simple. Viewers were often told when there was a transition or the scene would fade black and cut. There was often light and somber music, especially whenever the Flower Girl was involved in a scene. For instance, whenever the Tramp takes a break from work to visit the ill Flower Girl, light staccato music is playing. The scene is shot as a medium scene to most likely develop the relationship between the Tramp and the Flower Girl. The mood is light until there is a fade, in which viewers now see the grandmother of the Flower Girl desperately attempting to sell flowers to make ends meet, however is getting ignored. There is a shift, the long shot establishes this distance between the societal classes and viewers really noticed how overlooked the grandmother is. The scene then fades black back to a medium shot of the Flower Girl and the Tramp only to switch to a close up of the Tramp as his face shifts from delight to fear and worry over the Flower Girls eviction notice. Viewers definitely, at this point, realize that everything thats happening is problematic, and very distressing.
7. Goethe’s Three Questions
A. What was the artist trying to do?
In the text, I Love Movies, it is mentioned how Charlie Chaplin believes that the truth is better expressed through actions and images rather than words. In his film, City Lights, it’s evident that this is what he’s trying to express to audiences as well, considering that he had the opportunity to produce the film with sound. Chaplin took what would be considered today a “rom-com” and made something much more expressive and sweet. His film showcased the cliche that actions speak louder than words, along with the idea that one’s actions should define their value and who they are and not their outward appearance.
B. How well did they do it?
Personally, I think City Lights did well. The editing, the shots, and the film itself was simple. The simplicity of the film worked because Chaplin’s main message didn’t have to be flashy for viewers to understand. The film was pretty authentic for that time period, showcasing the different classes – the rich and the working. On one hand, viewers saw the side of the rich, who lived a life consisting of staying out all night, partying, drinking, and not too many worries. On the other hand, there was the working class with people like the Flower Girl and her grandmother, who were genuinely trying to get by, and the crooked boxer and criminals who were so desperate for money. For the most part, City Lights was a reality for many people.
C. Was it worth doing?
Yes. Chaplin made the film entertaining and sweet, however shed light on a concept that many people either do or are faced with. Creating a love interest who was blind really aided in developing the idea that people are worth more than their appearance leads on. Or even the idea that people are valuable regardless of opinions inflicted by society. This is a concept that society today really struggles with. The film is sweet and granted, many themes generated throughout this film are cliches but they are valuable themes nonetheless.
Works Cited
City Lights. Dir. Charlie Chaplin. United Artists, 1931.
Ruiz-Esparza, Deborah. I Love Movies. 2nd ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.