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City Lights

Play trailer 1:14 Poster for City Lights G 1931 1h 27m Romance Comedy Drama Crime History Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A hapless but resilient tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) on the tough city streets. Upon learning that she and her grandmother are to be evicted from their home, the tramp undertakes a series of attempts to provide them with the money they need, all of which end in humiliating failure. But after a drunken millionaire (Harry Myers) lavishly rewards him for saving his life, the tramp can change the flower girl's life forever.
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City Lights

City Lights

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Critics Consensus

One of the best underdog romance movies ever, with an ending that will light up any heart.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com 06/27/2018
A+
Chaplin and his cast have crafted a silent film that is drastically funny, extremely well-shot and still holds up today...this is a labor of love, for sure, but the end result is a classic that has held the test of time. Go to Full Review Irene Thirer New York Daily News 01/29/2016
4/4
"City Lights" is excruciatingly funny and terribly, terribly sad. It makes you chuckle hysterically. You have the greatest time imaginable, and yet, occasionally you find little hurty lumps in your throat. Go to Full Review Scott Tobias The Dissolve 11/19/2013
5/5
There's dignity and folly to The Tramp in City Lights, and everything in between. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 02/21/2023
... it borders on maudlin at times, but the rest mixes heartbreak and hardship with slapstick and spirited gags, all with the grace we’ve come to expect of cinema’s silent comic poet. Go to Full Review Zita Short InSession Film 02/02/2023
That famous final scene didn’t leave me crying my eyes out because the two main characters were thinly drawn archetypes and their bond did not seem to mean anything Go to Full Review Carson Timar ButteredPopcorn 08/28/2022
A
Charlie Chaplin is a film auteur who's career boils down to two sides, that of comedy and that of personal statement. City Lights remains one of the strongest collaborations between the two. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Marce S Sep 13 When it comes to Chaplins romance and balancing between comedy and tragedy, no other film hits as hard as this one. See more Hao Ian L Sep 9 There's no denying the groundwork laid here for the comedy genre as a whole, and that is no easy feat, making it Chaplin's well-deserved crowning achievement at the time. Yet, the very same comedic effect does seem to feel very dated in its years, mostly in its slapstick and over-the-top approach that did not age all that well. See more Julio B Jul 13 The greatest romantic comedy ever made! See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 10 Funny in 1 hour and 27 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Charlie Chaplin as Little Tramp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $18,200.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Alexsander F Apr 25 The film is beautiful and so simple. See more Byron H @HalloweenII 11/27/2024 4/4 Thee romantic comedy that's also one of the ten best American Films of all time. It quite possibly has the greatest ending to any movie in history. See more Read all reviews
City Lights

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Cast & Crew

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Charlie Chaplin

Director

Charlie Chaplin

A Tramp

Virginia Cherrill

A blind girl

Harry Myers

An eccentic millionaire

Hank Mann

A prizefighter

Al Ernest Garcia

The eccentric millionaire's butler

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City Lights

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City Lights

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Movie Info

Synopsis A hapless but resilient tramp (Charlie Chaplin) falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) on the tough city streets. Upon learning that she and her grandmother are to be evicted from their home, the tramp undertakes a series of attempts to provide them with the money they need, all of which end in humiliating failure. But after a drunken millionaire (Harry Myers) lavishly rewards him for saving his life, the tramp can change the flower girl's life forever.
Director
Charlie Chaplin
Producer
Charlie Chaplin
Screenwriter
Charlie Chaplin
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Charles Chaplin Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama, Crime, History, Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 30, 1931, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 14, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.2K
Runtime
1h 27m
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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