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Last week's Movie Quiz winners

The Gold Rush doesn't have the emotional resonance or comedic invention of Charles Chaplin's later work, and that may be exactly why it's a perfect introduction for most people to not only Chaplin's films but silent comedy in general. It moves at a brisk pace, and has little to none of the over-emotiveness and hamminess that many associate with silent movies (and not incorrectly). You never have to wait long for another major comedy set piece (the tilting cabin, the windy cabin, and Charlie the chicken, to name my three faves), and the stuff in between is great, too.

(Chaplin preparing a sequence with guest star Chico Marx.)

For years, I've avoided the re-released version of The Gold Rush, with Chaplin's added narration and music, and it's not the way to see it the first time, but now that I've finally gotten around to watching it, I have to admit that it has its charms, too. Although his first few narrative bits make him sound too much like Walter Winchell on a caffeine jag, and too often the commentary is completely unnecessary, the rest of Chaplin's narration is quite good. It's interesting to hear him give voice to some of The Tramp's funniest moments, and I guess it's the closest to a commentary track from him that we'll ever get.

So congratulations and a boiled shoe to the following quiz winners: Wayne Palmer, Mark Gisleson, Corey Anderson, John Middleton, Kevin Musolino, E. Yarber, Hank Parmer, Bill Hearne, Christina O'Sullivan, Joe Rosenberg, Jen McCabe, Gopal Kidao, Matt Fischbein, and Vince Tuss. And special congratulations to Tim McDonough, who wins this week's big prize: a cig-smoking baby action figure.

Posted by Steve Monaco at March 27, 2006 12:46 AM

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