Critic Reviews

City Lights (1931) Rank 4 Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give City Lights (1931) a score of 3.7191 out of 4

based on (23) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(18)

Very Good

(5)

Good

(0)

Fair

(0)

Poor

(0)

Reviews by Score:

DVD Review e-zine

I can't recommend this release enough! ...read the complete City Lights movie review at DVD Review e-zine

TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

One of the cinema's greatest and most durable masterpieces. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (--)

efilmcritic.com (Collin Souter)

City Lights, when watched today, has the feel of an old, personal story being passed down another generation. The ending is, to say the least, sublime. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at efilmcritic.com (Collin Souter)

All Movie Guide (Dan Jardine)

A paean to our finest impulses: perhaps Chaplin's finest effort. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at All Movie Guide (Dan Jardine)

Decent Films Guide (Steven D. Greydanus)

The quintessential Chaplin film - both the most perfectly crafted and the most representative of all the different textures and tones for which he is remembered. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at Decent Films Guide (Steven D. Greydanus)

Perihelion Journal (Jay Antani)

City Lights is a great gift to all of us by a filmmaker at a latter-day peak of his genius ...read the complete City Lights movie review at Perihelion Journal (Jay Antani)

TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide

The story of a tramp in love with a blind flower girl, Charles Chaplin's CITY LIGHTS is one of the cinema's greatest and most durable masterpieces. Billed by Chaplin as "a comedy romance in pantomime," the film was a daring venture for its maker: a ...read the complete City Lights movie review at TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide

culturevulture.net, Choices for the Cognoscenti

Nobody before or since has combined slapstick and poignancy to make such a perfectly timed, perfectly modulated entertainment. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at culturevulture.net, Choices for the Cognoscenti

Three Movie Buffs (Patrick Nash)

Chaplin once said, "Movies need dialogue as much as great symphonies need lyrics." From anyone else's lips these words are meaningless, but from this silent poet and true movie genius they ring true. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Patrick Nash)

DVDwolf (Rob Paul)

This is one of the highest moments in cinematic history, argue if you wish. The sheer emotion, the lack of theatrical trickery or effect...and more than 75 years later it works. That is the mark of a master. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at DVDwolf (Rob Paul)

Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)

This is the movie with the amazing boxing scene, and the incredibly powerful and heartbreaking ending when the flower girl, sight newly regained, realizes who Charlie really is by touching his hands, then the look in his eyes when she silently rejects him ...read the complete City Lights movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)

Teen Movie Critic (Roger Davidson)

...a film regarded by many as his masterpiece. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at Teen Movie Critic (Roger Davidson)

BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)

Charlie Chaplin struggled with this movie for years but the end result was one of his finest and most touching films. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)

ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)

Through his perfectionism, Chaplin demonstrates that he can put a smile on your face and a tear in your eye simultaneously and leave us richer for the experience. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at ToxicUniverse.com (John Nesbit)

At-A-Glance Film Reviews (--)

It is the culmination of all Chaplin's Little Tramp films, masterfully juxtaposing humor and sorrow to obtain a wonderful sort of bittersweetness that few, if anyone else, can achieve. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at At-A-Glance Film Reviews (--)

digitallyOBSESSED.com (David Krauss)

Silent film acting is truly an art, and only a few of Hollywood's elite mastered it. Chaplin was one of them, and his work in City Lights ranks among his finest performances. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at digitallyOBSESSED.com (David Krauss)

DVD Verdict (Dan Mancini)

City Lights is easily one of Charlie Chaplin's greatest works, silent or talking. As a matter of fact, if you're going to own only one Chaplin title, make it this one. It's certainly my favorite. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at DVD Verdict (Dan Mancini)

filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)

Widely considered Chaplin's best film (or at least close to the best), this simple and sweet story has the beloved tramp going to outrageous lengths to raise money for a blind girl's "miracle cure. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)