Fouzia Ashfaq 
The Magic of the Little Tramp
Charlie Chaplin was the biggest star in the world a long time ago. Everyone knew his face and his funny walk. Specifically, he played a character called the Little Tramp. This character wore a small hat and carried a cane. He was often poor but always very kind. People laughed at his jokes and cried at his sad moments. In 1931, he made a movie called City Lights. Many experts say this is his best work. City Lights
Moreover, they say it has the greatest ending in the history of cinema. Therefore, we should look at why this movie is so special. It is a story about love, hope, and a very brave little man. Even today, the movie makes people feel big feelings in their hearts.
A Big Risk in a Noisy World
When Chaplin made City Lights, the world of movies was changing fast. For many years, movies were silent. Then, a new invention allowed movies to talk. People loved these new “talkies” very much. Most actors started talking in their films right away. However, Charlie Chaplin decided to stay silent. He believed that his art was about movement and faces. Specifically, he thought the Tramp would not be funny if he spoke.
Consequently, many people thought he was making a big mistake. They thought the movie would fail because it had no voices. But Chaplin did not listen to the critics. Therefore, he spent years making his silent masterpiece. He wanted to prove that a look can say more than a thousand words.
The Story of the Flower Girl
The plot of the movie is very simple and very sweet. The Little Tramp falls in love with a beautiful girl. Specifically, this girl is blind and cannot see the world. She sells flowers on a busy street corner to make money. She thinks the Tramp is a very rich and handsome prince. Because he is kind, he does not tell her the truth. Instead, he tries to help her get better.
He works many hard jobs to get enough money for a doctor. For instance, he even tries to win a boxing match to help her. In addition, he meets a rich man who gives him some gold. The Tramp gives all the money to the girl so she can see again. Consequently, he has to go to jail for a crime he did not do.
Chaplin Was a True Perfectionist
Making a movie was a very long journey for Charlie Chaplin. He was a man who wanted everything to be perfect. Specifically, he was the actor, the director, and the boss. He spent a huge amount of time on every single shot. For example, there is a scene where he buys a flower from the girl. He shot that one scene over three hundred times. He wanted the girl to look at him in just the right way.
Moreover, he fired people and hired them back if he felt the mood was wrong. Because of this, the movie took almost three years to finish. Therefore, it was one of the most expensive films of that time. In fact, his hard work is why the movie looks so good today.
Finding the Perfect Leading Lady
The girl in the movie was played by Virginia Cherrill. She was not a professional actress before this film. Specifically, Chaplin saw her at a boxing match and liked her face. He thought she looked very gentle and very pretty. However, they did not always get along on the set. Chaplin was very tough on her and made her do things over and over. In addition, she was young and sometimes liked to go to parties instead of working.
This made the director very angry at times. But in the end, her performance was perfect for the role. Consequently, she became a part of film history forever. Their connection on the screen is what makes the story feel very real. Therefore, we can thank her for her patience and her beauty.
The Power of Music and Rhythm
Since the movie was silent, music was very important. Charlie Chaplin did not just act; he also wrote the songs. Specifically, he composed the whole score for the movie himself. He knew exactly when the music should be happy or sad. For instance, the music is very fast when he is running from the police. In addition, it is very slow and soft when he is with the girl.
Therefore, the music acts like a voice for the characters. It tells the audience how to feel in every second. Moreover, he spent weeks working with a big orchestra to get the sound right. As a result, the movie flows like a beautiful dance. Consequently, you do not even miss the sound of people talking.
The Path to the Greatest Final Shot
The end of the movie happens after the Tramp gets out of jail. He is now very poor and his clothes are torn. Specifically, he is walking down the street and sees a new flower shop. Inside the shop is the girl he helped so long ago. Because of the surgery, she can now see clearly for the first time.
She is happy and successful and looks very lovely. She is waiting for the “rich man” who saved her life. Then, she sees the poor Tramp looking at her through the window. She thinks he is just a funny little man. Therefore, she decides to be kind and give him a flower and a coin. Consequently, she walks outside to meet him face to face.
A Touch That Changes Everything
The girl takes the Tramp’s hand to give him the money. Specifically, she feels his skin and the way he holds her. Suddenly, she remembers that feeling from when she was blind. She realizes that this poor, messy man is actually her hero. It looks into his eyes with a lot of shock and love. She asks him a very simple question: “You?” The Tramp is very shy and a bit afraid of what she will think.
Therefore, he looks at her with a mix of joy and sadness. In addition, he holds the flower to his face and smiles a tiny smile. This moment is what critics call the greatest shot in cinema. Furthermore, it is a moment where the whole story comes together in a single look.
Why Chaplin Was in a Class by Himself
Many people ask why Charlie Chaplin was so much better than others. Specifically, it is because he knew how to be human. He did not need fancy words or loud noises to tell a story. He used his body and his face to show what was in his soul. In the final shot of City Lights, he is doing something very difficult. He is showing two different feelings at the exact same time.
He is happy that she can see, but he is sad that he is so poor. Therefore, he looks both like a king and a beggar. Consequently, James Agee, a famous writer, said this was the greatest acting ever done. Moreover, Chaplin understood that silence is sometimes more powerful than speech. Thus, he truly was in a class by himself.
The Lasting Legacy of City Lights
Even after almost one hundred years, people still watch this movie. Specifically, it is a favorite for students who want to learn about art. It teaches us that kindness is the most important thing in the world. Moreover, it shows that true love does not care about money or looks. The Little Tramp is a hero because he gave everything away for a friend. Therefore, the movie is a lesson for all of us today.
In addition, the final shot still makes people cry in theaters all over the globe. It is a timeless piece of magic that will never grow old. Consequently, Charlie Chaplin will always be the king of the silent screen. His work is a gift that keeps on giving to every new generation. City Lights
A Masterpiece for the Ages City Lights
In conclusion, City Lights is a movie that everyone should see at least once. It tells a beautiful story about a man who loved a girl with all his heart. Specifically, the hard work of Charlie Chaplin made it a perfect work of art (City Lights). Consequently, the final shot remains the most moving moment in the history of film. Therefore, we should celebrate the genius of the man in the little hat. City Lights
He proved that you do not need sound to touch the hearts of millions. In addition, he showed us that hope can be found in the smallest of places (City Lights). Moreover, his smile in that final scene is a light that will never go out. Thus, let us always remember the magic of the Little Tramp. City Lights
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