The master of silent comedy is undoubtedly Charlie Chaplin (“The Gold Rush”, “The Kid”) and many consider “City Lights” a classic. The movie was made after the advent of sound but Chaplin decided to only embrace a few sound effects rather than spoken dialog. This is an exceptional piece of work that had me laughing throughout.

The Tramp (Chaplin) falls in love with a beautiful girl (Virginia Cherrill “Delicious”). Unfortunately, the girl is blind and her family is in financial trouble. In order to help out, the Tramp is determined to do anything and everything to raise the funds needed for the eye operation and the rent.

Chaplin’s decision not to embrace sound is an intelligent one because he knew that he had mastered the art of silent comedy. He would eventually speak in the terrific movie “The Great Dictator”. His comedic choreography here is just absolutely brilliant. The way he spends the majority of the boxing match hiding behind the referee is marvellous and I could not stop laughing during the scene where he accidentally swallows a whistle. Chaplin was a perfectionist and he even had Virginia Cherrill do hundreds of takes for a scene where she offers him flowers. It’s rather amusing to think that so much time was dedicated to a line in a silent movie.

“City Lights” is a comedy movie masterpiece that shows why Chaplin was (and arguably still is) the king of slapstick. It’s even more impressive considering the competition he had from the likes of Buster Keaton (“The General”). Almost every scene in “City Lights” had me in stitches because the timing is just so brilliant. The movie is also very endearing with a genuinely great romantic storyline. The final scene where the Tramp and the girl encounter each other after time apart is truly touching. Even if you are not somebody that particularly likes old movies, you owe it to yourself to check out “City Lights”.