...TH 330 – American Cinema January 29, 2010 Gold Rush Does any movie require a happy ending? Charlie Chaplin added his twist to the meaning of “happy endings” when he directed the film Gold Rush. Even when the movie business was in its early years Chaplin recognized that a happy ending could have a variety of meaning. Furthermore, he tantalized the audience from every angle with his resourcefulness and quick wit. In Gold Rush, Chaplin easily makes fun out of being poor and destitute. For one thing, he was able to turn the hazards and tribulations of “coldness” into comedy. In essence, I am referring to the coldness due to the weather and of some people’s reactions to the Little Tramp. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the movie even though it highlights the many aspects of desperate men and women who are willing to put their bodies through immense hardship in the pursuit of gold. For sure, the Little Tramp is by no means on physical par to the other men in the movie; however, he always has an ingenious way of getting what he wants, even the girl. For example, when Big Jim imagines that Charlie is a chicken and runs after him with an axe, Charlie mistakenly shoots a bear and they have food for days. Then, Charlie meets another prospector who lends him his cabin and all he had to do was simply take care of the cabin and the mule. Chaplin was able to pull the audience into the movie; he would have them laughing at one time and sad in the other instance. The film did...
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...Joseph Andolina Kris Boustedt Cinema 201: Introduction to Cinema History 1/21/13 Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” If there’s one film that should be considered the quintessential representation of triumph in Charlie Chaplin’s large body of work, I would have to say that is The Gold Rush released in 1925. This film was a victory not only for Chaplin as a filmmaker, but also for his beloved character The Tramp. He often mentioned that this was the film “by which he would most like to be remembered”. ( Robinson 334). Prior to The Gold Rush, it was two years since a Charlie Chaplin film release. The film, A Woman of Paris, directed by him and starring Adolphe Menjou, was missing one key element that made up the kind of Chaplin film his fans flocked to see: there was no Chaplin in the guise of his Tramp character anywhere to be seen. Not only was the film a large disappointment to his many fans, it was a box office failure. Author Kenneth Lynn in his book Charlie Chaplin and his Times said it well. “For the first time ever, Chaplin had concocted a flop d’estime that failed to recover its production costs.” (Lynn 277-278). This failure “was too bitter a pill for Chaplin, by now a full-fledged addict of adulation.” (Louvish 196). It’s no wonder why this was a blow to him as artist and filmmaker and a catalyst to make The Gold Rush into one of his most memorable and beloved classics. Watching The Gold Rush, it is easy to see why Chaplin said in a 1925 interview for the New York Times, “I have done...
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...Once upon a time gold was what makes the world go round, it made people greedy, hungry for more, and certainly it drove them to want more and to do crazy things for more. Gold was such a big part of life in the late 1800s through the early 1900s, and there were two main places for gold mining in America; California (there were major gold rushes in California through the mid 1900s) and Alaska, more specifically the Yukon Territory. The Alaska Gold Rush of the late 1800s was one of the major gold rushes in U.S. history. There was one main area in Alaska, where the major discoveries were made, the Klondike River, more specifically Bonanza Creek (University 1). Bonanza Creek was a tributary of the Klondike River and a hot spot for gold mining (University 1). Also, this creek was home to the first discovery of the entire rush. There were many towns during the gold rush that became modern day cities: including modern day cities such as Vancouver, Edmonton, and Seattle. The city to make the least profits during the rush was Seattle. Seattle made only over one million dollars and it was the least productive city. Seattle acquired its small scale empire by doing one thing, selling supplies to prospectors, but unfortunately for the citizens of Seattle their mayor, S.D. Wood, ditched town because he wanted to keep some of the riches for himself (Libraries 1). Vancouver, a once small Canadian town doubled its population during the rush. The most profitable city was...
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...beginning of the Gold Rush was the story of James Marshall. Marshall was instructed by John Sutter, a business man, to find an area to build a sawmill. Marshall, traveled with a few workers, it took him a while to find the right spot because: "nothing but a mule could climb the hills; and when I would find a spot where the hills were not steep, there was no timber to be had" (Holliday 56). Marshall had finally found an area where he could build a sawmill, and managed to get his team through the steep hills of California. One morning he came upon an area of the camp to check the status of the camp. When he was observing the water flow, he noticed something really shiny. Marshall picked up the gold pieces, assuming that this was a fluke, but as the day grew older, he found a few more pieces of gold. Then there was that famous quote that people tend to still say today: "Boys, by God I believe I have found a gold mine. (Holliday 58)” This story was taken in to account as the first story to hit the globe about gold being found in California. Actually, there is another story. This one is about a Mexican, who found gold in the hills of California, long before news had spread about gold being found by James Marshall. His name was Francisco Lopez. He was traveling in the San Fernando Valley, in 1842, during the time California was still a territory. Lopez was taking a rest, when he found a few pieces of gold, as he continued...
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...Patrice Sterling Dr. Andrews Paper #2 The Colorado Gold Rush began in 1858 and attracted a staggering variety of characters. United by a common desire to find their fortunes in the West, these prospectors faced harsh conditions and often, little reward. Fifty years later, those flocking to Colorado were a very different sort. Entrepreneurs, tycoons, and even European nobility sought out the state’s pristine natural beauty by visiting luxury hotels and by building lavish private residences. Increasingly, Colorado became a destination for those who had already secured their fortunes, rather than a place to start from scratch. Certainly, more modest citizens continued to flow into the new state, but compared with earlier days in the state’s past, Colorado began to attract more people from the luxury set than ever before. I chose two photographs, taken fifty years apart, to exemplify the changing character and reputation of Colorado during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first image I will be analyzing shows a prospector working panning for gold on a river bank in the Colorado mountains near Cripple Creek. It was taken circa 1890 by an unidentified photographer. The man’s clothing is tattered and his beard is unkempt. He crouches in the icy water, staring woefully into his sieve, which presumably contains nothing more valuable than river gravel. On the bank to his left, a well used shovel lies as if tossed aside along with a pick axe. This man is working...
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...where the American Dream came true for many. Before the gold rush, California was under the Mexican rule since 1821. California’s population mainly consisted of about 6,500 Californios, 700 Americans and 150,000 Native Americans. Most of the Californians lived on vast ranches granted to them by the Mexican government. New settlers, mainly Americans, started moving into California for land and trade. Mexican control over California weakened following the Bear Flag revolt by the settlers and the United States took control of the region. The United States waged war against Mexico for manifest destiny and a dispute over Texas in the Mexican–American War on May 19,1846. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between United States and Mexico ended the war officially on February 2,1848. California was handed over to United States. Neither the United States nor Mexico knew that gold had recently been discovered in California in 1848. The discovery of gold set off a major historical event in California, the California Gold Rush! James Marshall accidentally discovered gold while at work on January 24,1848 in Coloma, California. He was a carpenter building a sawmill on the banks of the American River at Coloma for John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant to California who founded the Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento. On January 24, 1848 James Marshall noticed tiny golden flakes sparkling in the American River and was astonished to find that it was gold! He reported this to John Sutter and they together...
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...1949 Gold Rush In 1948 the Gold Rush truly started, it was the beginning of a time of great optimism in California but it had its difficulties and challenges too. It was a time the common man had power in numbers and even people of non-American birth had the ability to make a difference. It was a time when Native Americans and the environment were shoved out of the way of industry. It was a time when even the poorest of the poor had the ability to and sometimes did strike it rich. Because of this gold rush the territory of California became a state and even through hardships California ended up better than it started. California was all around the fastest territory in the Union to become a state. The population of California was 6,500 Californios, which are people who are from spain or mexico, 700 other people that are mostly American, and roughly 150,000 Native Americans before gold was discovered. It was the 24th of January in 1848 and James Wilson Marshall was building a sawmill on the American River in California, while doing this though he noticed a flake of gold in the river. He later said "It made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold." ("Gold Rush of 1849" 3). The gold discovery wrought immense changes upon the land and its people. After three months three-fourths of the men in the nearby city of San Francisco had cleared out and gone looking for gold (Caloma California 1).California, with its diverse population, achieved statehood in 1850, decades earlier...
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...Part A The California Gold Rush was an important discovery that contributed to the development and expansion of the United States. Prior to the Gold Rush California was a remote and sparsely populated area with no government control. People could come by sea or land which made it a great location when the Gold Rush exploded. The California Gold Rush brought 300,000 people across the United States to the West (Wikipedia, 2004). Of the 300,000 half arrived by sea and half came from the east overland on the California Trail and the Gila River Trail (Wikipedia, 2004). At first the gold nuggets could be picked off the ground. Later, gold was recovered from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques. Towards the end heavier equipment was used to retrieve the gold. When the gold was first discovered they wanted to keep it quiet. There was fear of what would happen to the land and agriculture if there was a mass gold search, but rumors spread and people saw the profits that could be made. Many hurried to set up stores to sell gold digging supplies and then announced and spread word of gold. It didn’t take long for this exciting news to take off. Soon all the newspapers along the east coast were reporting the findings and wealth to be made in California. The effects of the Gold Rush were substantial. In six years, San Francisco grew from a small settlement of about 200 residents to a boomtown of about 36,000 (Udall, 2003). Roads, churches, schools and other towns...
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...Gold strike Sutter’s mill When gold rush hits the California and created thousands of fortunes. Mr. John Augustus Sutter had bankrupted. Because his profitable 50,000-acre estate was overrun with miners, and his thousands of heads of livestock were stolen. Meanwhile, all his workers ran off to look for gold. But, who knows if that could leads to another fortune, Mr. John Sutter could probably change his main occupation from ranch owner to gold mine owner. As James W. Marshall remembered, it was 19th of January, but his not so sure, but it certainly is between 18th to 20th. There were some other sources mentioned it could be 24th. Anyway, at that day, he and his crew were in the habit at night of turning the water through the tail race they had dug for the purpose of widening and deepening the race. James Marshall used to go down in the morning to see what had been done by the water through the night; and about half past seven o'clock, he stepped into race, near the lower end, and there, upon the rock, about six inches beneath the surface of the water, he discovered the gold. It was so unbelievable that he had to use the little general knowledge of minerals he had to test it out. Then he returned with four to five pieces. He went up to Mr. Scott and told him he has found gold. "Oh! No, that can't be" was the answer he got from Mr. Scott. Then he replied positively - "I know it to the nothing else." then Mr. Scott became the second person who saw the gold. And soon everyone knew...
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...filled with gold. Men and women of all ages and races traveled hundreds to thousands of miles to get to the city of gold. The gold was first discovered by james w marshall at Sutter's mill in Coloma, California. Unfortunately for John Shutter he didn’t end up striking it rich Marshall's discovery lead to the largest mass migration of people in the US. United States citizens weren't the only people to migrate west, thousands of people from around the world fled to find the gold. More than less men and women would...
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...Environmental Impact: California Gold Rush The Gold Rush of Yesterday and Its Effect on the Environment Today The California Gold Rush of 1848 produced more than a just a fever for the fortune seekers. It also produced an impact upon the environment whose effects can still be witnessed today. In 1848 the call went out across the nation, there is gold in Sutter’s Mill. As the word spread settlers and immigrants began their long treks across the plains and from far foreign lands across the seas to California. Up until the discovery of gold, much of the Californian lands had been unsettled. Between the years 1848 and 1866 some 350,000 emigrants had traveled to California in search of their fortune.1 This massive influx of such a vast number of people placed a huge burden upon the land and resulted in the dishevel of its indigenous people. As the population rapidly increased so did the need for food, water, and shelter. The requirements placed upon the land by its new population were great. The natural wildlife of the area was quickly over hunted for their meat and furs. The rivers were over fished and huge forests were clear cut to provide the demand of construction materials in support of structures and dwelling. In the lower lands trees were cut to clear land needed for farming and to provide fuel material to the mines. Natural water ways were redirected and damned to support the mining efforts. These changes only further exasperated the dwindling fish and fresh...
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...Did you know the California Gold Rush was the largest mass migration in American history? The California Gold Rush wasn’t the first gold rush in history but many people think it was. Some miners struck rich and were better off than they were before they came to Coloma. Others weren’t as successful and were sick and out of money. The California Gold Rush took place in Coloma, California from 1848 to 1855. This was a time of excitement and prosperity for many Americans. In addition it was a tough and hard time for foreigners and some of the Americans.The gold rush was a challenge for many individuals because of the crime, quality of life, and the difficult trave. During the Gold Rush there was many crimes which caused hardship for some of the miners seeking for their fortune.Majority of the crimes the crimes were property theft and the number of crimes increased with every new miner (Saffer 44). One of the reason that the miners stole from others was that many were unsuccessful and had to steal to get food or make money to be able to get back home. “ A gang called the Hounds raided Chileno...
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...the Journey The California Gold Rush affected the individuals involved in many ways. Many people had traveled to California for one thing. Gold. They went for the gold because of the money that came along with it. Men had left their jobs and families to travel to California by sea or trail. The individuals of the Gold Rush faced many challenges traveling to California such as diseases, lack of supplies needed, and time it took to get there within the environment they chose to travel. One of the many challenges faced in the Gold Rush was sickness and disease. Different travelers faced different illnesses. In the text it states, “Often people tied themselves to their beds to keep from being tossed about. Seasickness abounded.”...
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...In 1849, John Sutter struck gold at his mill in Sacramento, California, beginning one of the most pivotal events in United States History. During the next few years, hundreds of thousands of Americans pioneered out west hoping to become prosperous, and strike it rich. Many of these men would lose all of their money, and live in poverty for the rest of their lives. A very small percentage; however, would strike it rich and never have to work again. This influx of people during the Gold Rush led to the development of a new state, but also ruined the lives of thousands and thousands of people. Almost all resources of the west coast were depreciated, and the gold was virtually gone within 2 years. The pioneers arrived to California very unprepared...
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...Gold rush fever hit in 1896. Men and women alike journeyed to Alaska for the chance of making easy money. Some succeeded and others failed. Some women in particular made their marks during the gold rush, but not just by panning for gold. These women started businesses. The chance of becoming rich persuaded business women to journey to the Klondike. Belinda Mulrooney was seduced by the riches in Dawson. She was 26 when she arrived in the Yukon. Mulrooney had no one and nothing but a 25 cent-piece which she threw in the Yukon river for good luck. At 21 Mulrooney left home to run a successful sandwich shop in Chicago, and then an ice cream parlor in San Francisco before settling on working as a stewardess for a steamship company. “She had saved...
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