POST 37: Component 01 (Exam 1) The Silent Era - Micro Elements of 'The Gold Rush'

MICRO ELEMENTS OF 'THE GOLD RUSH'

Scene 1: Shotgun Scene - This scene is the definition of slapstick humour as Charlie is alone in the cabin and two characters who had been introduced beforehand are now also inside all together. With both Black Larsen and Big Jim fighting over a gun and constantly aiming it at Charlie, even as he moves.

Mise-en-scene:

The costume remains the same throughout, with the Little Fellow (The Lone Prospector) accentuated by the oversized clothing and the iconic moustache of Chaplin in the film. This exaggerates how small he is in comparison to others. The clothing for the other two characters are also oversized but for warmth to show the cruel temperatures of the mountains. 

The make-up is not prominent within this film, and the only makeup applied is around Charlie's eyes that appear very bold through the black and white movie, the history of his films use this to signify who he was, almost as famous as the moustache. 

The props in this scene are also quite minimal, as it is in a cabin. These include; a table with a candle on the top, two beds, and a stove- the basics for living. This also plays alongside the characters movement as he runs around the small space ducking from the gun. The simplicity of the props allows the movement to be more prominent where the camera can see Charlie at all times. 

The location of this scene only remains in one position - being in the cabin, made out of props and in a set where it would be difficult to change the location. In the beginning of the scene when he opens the door the wind and snow is pushing him through, which shows the audience where the location of the cabin is, and why he had found himself there. 

The lighting is mainly front on, where the cameras are but as it is inside, it is a lot darker than other scenes in the film. The natural lighting effect has been created from appearing from the windows, which are also covered in snow to signify the location.

Camera angles and movement:

As Charlie is alone in the beginning of the scene, both the movement and angles are minimal and only show Charlie coming into the cabin and sitting down. As the whole scene focuses on in how Charlie is dodging the gun, the movement is important in showing the slapstick humour. The camera angles follow the movement, but consist of only two different shots, these showing the whole cabin from the centre. And the other being a close up in the corner where the gun is constantly 

Editing: 

The editing within this scene is quite basic and minimal, yet advanced at the time- as the cuts are only from being on one area to the same but as a close up. This is effective, as the scene relies heavily on how the characters are expressing their narrative. However, due to the technology at the time it shows how difficult editing would have to be, therefore the planning before filming, would have been the most important feature of making this scene and the film flow.

Diagetic and Non-diagetic Sound:

As this is a silent movie, there is no clear dialogue, however through the characters expression and movement the only sound needed is the orchestral music, which would have been live when the movie came out. This sound adds to the humour and fits into how the characters are. 

Scene 2: Little Fellow walking into the pub - This scene shows when Charlie first meets Georgia, or he sees her with the other girls in the pub. Charlie seem infatuated as soon as he sees her, but is quickly ignored. 

Mise-en-scene:

The costume remains the same throughout, with the Little Fellow (The Lone Prospector) accentuated by the oversized clothing and the iconic moustache of Chaplin in the film. This exaggerates how small he is in comparison to others, inside the pub, which could add to the humour in the beginning, and why Georgia easily ignores him. The clothing for Georgia is important to where the location is, as well as her job, as an iconic flapper girl with short dresses and pin up hair. 

The make-up is not prominent within this film, and the only makeup applied is around Charlie's eyes that appear very bold through the black and white movie, the history of his films use this to signify who he was, almost as famous as the moustache. The make up of Georgia is of a flapper girls, similar to all the other women in the pub with prominent, bold lipsticks, and the drawn on thin eyebrows.

The props in this scene are also quite minimal, as it is in the pub, however, within the whole film this would be the largest set full of props to show this. These include; an actual bar, stools, extras (dancing in the background).

The location of this scene only remains in one position - being in the pub, made out of props and in a set where it would be difficult to change the location, but manage to get different camera angles. In the beginning of the scene when he stands at the front of the pub we can see the whole bar, with Georgia being in both Charlie's and the audiences eyesight.

The lighting is mainly front on, where the cameras are but as it is inside, it is a lot darker than other scenes in the film. It is clear that it is the night as the lighting is dark in comparison to other scenes, however, it is still well lit, and enough to show the two main characters and Charlie's vision on Georgia.

Camera angles and movement:

As Charlie is alone in the beginning of the scene, both the movement and angles are minimal and only show Charlie coming into the bar and looking towards Georgia, a close up of Georgia and a close up of Charlie looking towards the crowd. As the whole scene focuses on in how Charlie trying to get Georgia's attention the movement is important in showing how he manages to do this. The camera angles follow the movement, but consist of only three different shots, these showing the whole cabin from the centre. And the other being a close up in the corner where the gun is constantly 

Editing: 

The editing within this scene is quite basic and minimal, yet advanced at the time- as the cuts are only from being on one area to the same but as a close up. This is effective, as the scene relies heavily on how the characters are expressing their narrative. 

Diagetic and Non-diagetic Sound:

As this is a silent movie, there is no clear dialogue, however through the characters expression and movement the only sound needed is the orchestral music, which would have been live when the movie came out. This sound adds to the humour and fits into how the characters are.

Scene 3: Cabin balancing - both Charlie and Big Jim have just woken up in the cabin in this scene, with the audience knowing that they are balancing off of the mountain after strong winds. This scene is an example of slapstick humour as it takes a long amount of time for both of the characters to actually knowledge their new location of cabin.

The costume remains the same throughout, with the Little Fellow (The Lone Prospector) accentuated by the oversized clothing and the iconic moustache of Chaplin in the film, even after waking up he is still, rather comically, wearing the same costume shown throughout the movie. This exaggerates how small he is in comparison to others, as well as how poor he is. Big Jim is also in his same attire, the reason for his character and costume is also to show he is lower class, suggesting the desperation to find the gold for the both of them had been to earn enough money to afford suitable things.  

The make-up is not prominent within this film, and the only makeup applied is around Charlie's eyes that appear very bold through the black and white movie, the history of his films use this to signify who he was, almost as famous as the moustache. The make up of Big Jim is non-existent in this scene, as well as the rest of the movie. As he is not the main character he is not the person to be looking at with no bold eyeliner. However his height compared to Charlie's had been a reason for the audience to look, therefore make up would not be need. 

The props  in this scene are also quite minimal, as it is in a cabin. These include; a table with a candle on the top, two beds, and a stove- the basics for living, these are shown throughout the movie. However, in the beginning of the scene all of these props are reassembled, due to the heavy winds/storm from the night before, as Charlie doesn't detect anything, he clearly just places the props back into place. This also plays alongside the characters movement as he runs around the small space ducking from the gun. The simplicity of the props allows the movement to be more prominent where the camera can see Charlie at all times.

The location of this scene only remains in two positions - being in the cabin, made out of props and in a set where it would be difficult to change the location, as well as the outside of the cabin, in order for the audience to know and the characters to not. When in the scene Charlie opens and almost falls out, meant that he has know acknowledged where they both, it is also shows the audience where the location of the cabin is, and why he had found himself there, which had been shown in the beginning of the scene, where the cabin is moving due to the heavy winds. 

The lighting is mainly front on, where the cameras are but as it is inside, it is a lot darker than other scenes in the film. The natural lighting effect has been created from appearing from the windows, which are also covered in snow to signify the location. The lighting from the outside perspective is similar, except that no light is blocked from anywhere, with minimal shadows, which, from a modern view, looks as if it is animated or illustrated into the scene of a mountain.

Camera angles and movement:

This had been the most interesting scene, where the use of movement, mainly the set, is clearly experimental but very effective for the slapstick humour that Chaplin relies heavily on, especially within this scene. As both of the two characters in the beginning of the scene constantly move around to balance the house, unknowingly resting on the edge of a mountain after strong winds. This goes on for quite a stretch of the scene, as the audience know that they are balancing, therefore the characters movement is hugely exaggerated and comical.

Editing: 

The editing within this scene is quite basic and minimal, yet advanced at the time- as the cuts are only from being on one area to the same but as a close up. This is effective, as the scene relies heavily on how the characters are expressing their narrative. The camera angles are made effective through the editing, the inside of the cabin and the outside alternate so that the audience are grasped by what they are watching, as the audience knows that the house is balancing, and the characters do not. As this film is created through a large set, the editing allows it to be seen as the cabin is placed on top of a mountain. Personally, this editing, for the time had been very advanced as when both Charlie and Big Jim escape from the falling of the house, it looks as if the stunt had been dangerous as it is the most realistic aspect of this scene.

Diagetic and Non-diagetic Sound:

As this is a silent movie, there is no clear dialogue, however through the characters expression and movement the only sound needed is the orchestral music, which would have been live when the movie came out. This sound adds to the humour and fits into how the characters are, the panicked expressions of the characters mean no dialogue is needed in the scene, overall this had made it more tense for the audience.