The Gold Rush (1925)

Often hailed as one Chaplin's best, and famous as the film for which he wished to be remembered, but I dunno. It's really more charming than laugh-out-loud funny. The climax with the falling cabin, of course, is brilliant, as is the dance of the dinner rolls. But it's also got stretches that qualify as merely whimsical and slightly undercooked. The shoe-eating scene exemplifies that -- a funny idea that isn't really developed beyond step one. Still pretty neat, obviously, but it's no Modern Times.

Grade: B+