Silent Films: No talking, just musical underscoring: Constant background music; jazz, classical, sometimes goes along with plot Prevalence of slapstick, physical comedy Use of props helps to convey plot and comedic elements Face and/or body used to convey emotion Repetition of musical theme Repetition of gags/props/movements Narration slides to help audience follow plot and dialogue

Silent Films: Keaton and Chaplin 1920’s = silent film advances to age of full length features with complex and elaborate narratives 1920’s = industrialization/urbanization/new middle class  mass production of movies make them chief entertainment Split in 19th century (Chaplin) vs. 20th century (Keaton) values pertaining to industrialization Chaplin looked back with nostalgia, Keaton looked forward with eagerness Populism vs. Progressivism Slapstick (series of gags loosely strung together) transformed into form of self-expression and character development, along with fuller, more complex narratives

-Parents were actors/singers, worked in the opera Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) -Born in London -Parents were actors/singers, worked in the opera -Due to father’s death and mother’s mental illness, Charlie and his brother were basically on their own from about age 10 -Started career at age 12 as a vaudeville comedian and tap dancer, which took him the USA in 1910, at age 21 -Worked under multiple studios until he gained his independence in 1917 and started working under his own studio -Know for his facial expressions and use of repetitive gags with everyday props (ie. mop, bucket, paintbrush)

Charlie Chaplin -Debuted “The Tramp” character in 1914’s Kid Auto Races at Venice -Chaplin played The Tramp in dozens of films: a childlike, bumbling little guy, good hearted, has manners of a “gentleman” despite being lower class in status, escapes authority figures and uses cunning to get what he wants -Work (1915), The Bank (1915) -Used a character very similar to The Tramp in 1940’s The Great Dictator, which was its last major appearance on film.

Charlie Chaplin Rooted in 19th century values: appeal of the Populist ideology of a preindustrial, simpler America. Represented through “the Tramp,” who was, in some ways, a rebel against society; did his own thing, focused on human spirit, not modern technological advancement. A wanderer, a dreamer, an idealist. Resists change; forever at odds with modern times.

-Revisited in 1942, sound added The Gold Rush (1925) -1896 Klondike Gold Rush: difficult times, harsh conditions, many casualties -Chaplin turned this into comedy, proving his belief that comedy and tragedy are not really that far apart (something that governed his career) -Plot is essentially watching the character of The Tramp seek riches in the Yukon -Production took about a year and a half, due to the complications; 2 weeks of shooting on location, the rest in a Hollywood studio -models created to produce the special effects (ie. hut dangling off the edge of a cliff) -Revisited in 1942, sound added