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Sunday 22 November 2009

Chaplin's Back In Town !


Charlie Chaplin's 1931 romantic comedy "City Lights" is coming to the Concert Hall with the original score performed by the full Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. One show only: Thursday November 26 at 8 pm.

City Lights is considered by many to be Chaplin's best work and still ranks highly among Hollywood classics.


It was a Chaplin project from beginning to end. He produced, directed, edited, wrote the score and most of the screenplay and, of course, acted in the lead role in his 'Tramp' persona. He bankrolled it to the tune of $1.5m and shot it almost entirely on his own studio lot.

'Silent pictures' were a becoming a thing of the past and Chaplin knew his Tramp's antics wouldn't translate well to talkies. That is why he provided a full orchestral score.


There was great anticipation here for this movie.

It was three years in the making and fans were desperate to see Chaplin back on screen. Local newspapers carried wire stories from LA and New York that included rave reviews which only heightened the anticipation.

City Lights opened at the Garrick Theatre on April 24, 1931.
The following day, a review in the Manitoba Free Press said: "'City Lights' is the best work of a cinema genius. See it by all means and take your children".

Downtown Winnipeg

Chaplin is said to have a few Winnipeg connections. Did he stay at the Windsor Hotel? Did he play the Playhouse Theatre? Did he leave here to go directly to Hollywood? I separate fact from myth at this blog post!

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