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City Lights
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City Lights (1931) More at IMDbPro »

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Lawrence of Arabia (1962) -- AFI's 10 Top 10 - The 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres
City Lights (1931) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Writer:
Contact:
View company contact information for City Lights on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 February 1931 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
The Tramp struggles to help a blind flower girl he has fallen in love with. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Best Of 2009: Overheard at the Gothams
 (From GreenCine Daily. 1 December 2009, 2:38 PM, PST)

A-z Movie Reviews – C’s
 (From HeyUGuys. 4 November 2009, 5:00 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Amusing comedy sets up SPECTACULAR ending more (140 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Virginia Cherrill ... A Blind Girl
Florence Lee ... The Blind Girl's Grandmother
Harry Myers ... An Eccentric Millionaire
Al Ernest Garcia ... The Eccentric Millionaire's Butler (as Allan Garcia)
Hank Mann ... A Prizefighter

Charles Chaplin ... A Tramp (as Charlie Chaplin)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
City Lights: A Comedy Romance in Pantomime (USA) (copyright title)
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Runtime:
83 min
Country:
Aspect Ratio:
1.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Silent | Mono (musical score)
Certification:
France:U | Portugal:M/6 (DVD rating) | Spain:T | West Germany:12 (1951) | Germany:6 (re-rating: 1997) | USA:G (1972) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Denmark:A (2003) | Norway:7 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In terms of years, this film was Charles Chaplin's longest undertaking. It was in production from 31 December 1927 - 22 January 1931, over three years. It shot for only 180 days, though. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When saving the man's life, and trying to climb out of the water, the position of the Tramp's hat is inconsistent. more
Quotes:
The Tramp: Can you see now?
A Blind Girl: Yes, I can see now.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Producers (1968) more

FAQ

List: Wacky boxing
Why is it called "City Lights"?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more
31 out of 39 people found the following review useful.
Amusing comedy sets up SPECTACULAR ending, 6 December 2004
Author: Brett Chandler (Thunderbuck) from Whitehorse, Yukon

This is my favorite Chaplin film, but I don't want that to diminish his other work, either. MODERN TIMES was an outstanding work of social satire, THE GOLD RUSH was great slapstick, and even the largely-neglected MONSIEUR VERDOUX strikes a certain unforgettable tone. Chaplin didn't make a bad movie, and I'm not even sure that CL is his best, exactly. But it IS my favorite, if only for the ending.

That ending has been the subject of much comment here. I think it's a masterpiece in a single scene. Chaplin's little tramp has never seemed less like a character and more like a living, breathing human being. It's a monument to understated sentimentality.

To me, the rest of the film exists largely to set the context for that one magnificent piece of celluloid. Yes, the boxing scene is great, and the scene where he rescues the millionaire is also wonderful, but it's that ending that makes us all love this movie.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for City Lights (1931)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
End help please? CharliesStache
Really Disappointed (Spoilers) michaelgrilo
What is the best joke in the movie? nirvanasaneurysm
Am I THAT cynical? (Spoilers) cwood0609
Is the ending the best in film history? laffalott1
how is this movie not in TOP 10 premier46
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