And the countdown continues in my quest to watch and find something inspiring in every single one of Yahoo’s 100 Movies to See Before You Die…
A gamin: What’s the use of trying?
The Little Tramp: Buck up – never say die. We’ll get along.
I’m almost ashamed to admit that this is the first Charlie Chaplin movie I’ve ever seen. Thank you, 100 Movies, for twisting my arm. I always thought I would be yawning and distracted, yearning for a constant stream of voices. Who has the patience for near silence, right? Well, consider me a convert. The Little Tramp completely worked his magic on me in this oft-political Great Depression tale. Alternately hilarious and poignant, the tramp finds himself enjoying prison more than working in a factory, something I’m sure most of us can identify with. I’ll go as far as to call the ending one of the best I’ve ever seen. The tramp and gamin find themselves destitute once again. They could just give up, but instead they … smile. Inspiring indeed.
Sir Lancelot: We were in the nick of time. You were in great peril.
Sir Galahad: I don’t think I was.
Sir Lancelot: Yes, you were. You were in terrible peril.
Sir Galahad: Look, let me go back in there and face the peril.
Sir Lancelot: No, it’s too perilous.
Sir Galahad: Look, it’s my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can.
You know you’re in for a good time when the opening credits (during which the subtitle writers are repeatedly fired) make you laugh out loud. Then enter King Arthur galloping around, sans horse, with his faithful servant clanging coconuts for effect, and you’ve got yourself a pretty damn awesome spoof. I’m now inspired to think of a way to mark my entrance in a ridiculously grandiose fashion. The coconuts thing has been done, but perhaps I could slither like a snake, or even like Axl Rose, while someone hisses behind me. No? Not good enough? Well, I fart in your general direction, then.
