City Lights (1931)
City Lights is a 1931 comedy movie directed by Charlie Chaplin, with a running time of 1h 27m. It stars Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill and Florence Lee.
Chaplin's Tramp shuffles into the city broke and hopeful, and falls for a blind girl selling flowers on a corner who mistakes him for a rich man. He does nothing to correct her. To keep the illusion going, and to help her, he takes odd jobs and strikes up a lopsided friendship with a drunk millionaire who only remembers him when he has had a few. Made as sound was taking over cinema, the film stays silent by choice, carrying its comedy and its heart through gesture and timing alone.
Quick answers
What is City Lights about?
Chaplin's Tramp shuffles into the city broke and hopeful, and falls for a blind girl selling flowers on a corner who mistakes him for a rich man. He does nothing to correct her. To keep the illusion going, and to help her, he takes odd jobs and strikes up a lopsided friendship with a drunk millionaire who only remembers him when he has had a few. Made as sound was taking over cinema, the film stays silent by choice, carrying its comedy and its heart through gesture and timing alone.
When was City Lights released?
City Lights was released on 6 February 1931.
How long is City Lights?
City Lights runs 1h 27m.
Who made City Lights?
City Lights was directed by Charlie Chaplin.
Where can I watch City Lights?
City Lights is available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV.
Where to watch City Lights
Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV
Watch free with ads: Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Shout! Factory TV, Tubi TV, YouTube Free
Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Cast
- Charlie Chaplin as A Tramp
- Virginia Cherrill as A Blind Girl
- Florence Lee as Her Grandmother
- Harry Myers as An Eccentric Millionaire
- Al Ernest Garcia as His Butler
- Hank Mann as A Prizefighter
- Albert Austin as Street Sweeper / Burglar (uncredited)
- Eddie Baker as Boxing Fight Referee (uncredited)
- Henry Bergman as Mayor / Blind Girl's Downstairs Neighbor (uncredited)
- Buster Brodie as Bald Party Guest (uncredited)
- Jeanne Carpenter as Diner in Restaurant (uncredited)
- Tom Dempsey as Boxer (uncredited)
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A few thoughts on City Lights
If the sweet, patient side of that romance is what you want more of, the TV dramas The Practical Guide to Love and Say You Love Me carry the same kindness-first courtship, where feeling runs ahead of circumstance and the leads keep choosing each other through the obstacles in their way.
Tender romances where love crosses class or circumstance
City Lights turns on the Tramp letting a blind flower girl believe he is rich, a romance built across a gap of money and truth. These stories share that bittersweet longing, following love that has to reach across class, secrets or distance. Tender, hopeful, and unafraid of a lump in the throat.
Comedies with a sentimental heart under the laughs
Chaplin carries City Lights on comedy and feeling at once, gesture and timing doing the work of both. These comedies share that mix of laughs and genuine warmth, earning their sentiment through character rather than speeches. Funny on the surface with real tenderness underneath, the balance City Lights made look effortless.
Broad comedies that run on situation and character
Under its romance, City Lights is first a comedy, powered by the Tramp stumbling through odd jobs and misunderstandings. These broad comedies share that appetite for situational chaos and easy laughs. They skip the sentiment for pure silliness, the knockabout energy Chaplin threads through even his most heartfelt film.