I know I know...Its virtually impossible to pick a number one movie of all time. There are probably a dozen or so (mostly differing) movies that each one of us truly enjoys watching time and again, that is deserving of this accolade.
Truly great films seem to affect people more in childhood.
Maybe something strange happens when you watch something for the first time as a kid. Certain things get beneath your skin. Things that probably wouldent as an adult, because we become, quite naturally older wiser and dare I say, even cynical.
I watched Charlie Chaplins 'CITY LIGHTS' for the first time when I was 9 years old. From that day to this, this movie has always made me laugh out louder than a lottery winner. And always makes me shudder with emotion. Try as I might, even after some three and a half decades of countless viewing it manages to automaticaly turn on the tears.
Also, the acting methods in those days were technically very different to today. Due to the lack of sound and therefore speech, the actors had a very important facet missing in their quest to convey their story to you. As Chaplin once said. They had to ACT to tell you what was going on. Talking the 'story' is so much easier.
I particularly love the mimic like charm of Chaplins acting. In the final scene where the blind girl played by Virginia Cherrill touches Chaplin and therefore recognises him as her secret benifactor, Chaplin points to his eyes, and says, "you can see now".
A masterclass of acting from the biggest movie star the world has ever seen. Charlie Chaplin, long may you live in our hearts.
Eric
Truly great films seem to affect people more in childhood.
Maybe something strange happens when you watch something for the first time as a kid. Certain things get beneath your skin. Things that probably wouldent as an adult, because we become, quite naturally older wiser and dare I say, even cynical.
I watched Charlie Chaplins 'CITY LIGHTS' for the first time when I was 9 years old. From that day to this, this movie has always made me laugh out louder than a lottery winner. And always makes me shudder with emotion. Try as I might, even after some three and a half decades of countless viewing it manages to automaticaly turn on the tears.
Also, the acting methods in those days were technically very different to today. Due to the lack of sound and therefore speech, the actors had a very important facet missing in their quest to convey their story to you. As Chaplin once said. They had to ACT to tell you what was going on. Talking the 'story' is so much easier.
I particularly love the mimic like charm of Chaplins acting. In the final scene where the blind girl played by Virginia Cherrill touches Chaplin and therefore recognises him as her secret benifactor, Chaplin points to his eyes, and says, "you can see now".
A masterclass of acting from the biggest movie star the world has ever seen. Charlie Chaplin, long may you live in our hearts.
Eric
