Critic Reviews
City Lights (1931) Rank 5 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (23) reviews
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Good
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Fair
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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
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)
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)
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
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 (--)
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)
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 (--)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
DVD MovieGuide
In City Lights we find the second of Charlie Chaplin's three most acclaimed comedies. It lacks the consistent laughs of The Gold Rush and the social commentary of Modern Times but it still works nicely as a bittersweet love story. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at DVD MovieGuide
DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
Chaplin always said it was The Gold Rush by which he wanted to be remembered, but a lot of folks think City Lights is his best work. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
DVD Net (Jules Faber)
City Lights is a gentle and simple film, incorporating some very funny sequences among the sentimental storyline of a humble man in love with a humble girl. ...read the complete City Lights movie review at DVD Net (Jules Faber)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
If only one of Charles Chaplin's films could be preserved, ``City Lights'' (1931) would come the closest to representing all the different notes of his genius. It contains the slapstick, the pathos, the pantomime, the effortless physical coordination, t ...read the complete City Lights movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
"Delicately blends comedy and pathos." ...read the complete City Lights movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
User Reviews
by Willy D. Reviewer on December 13, 2009
Some say Gold Rush was the best Chaplin Film -- obviously, the did not see City Lights.
Buy new -- it's a keeper. ...
by Karla M. Marcano ... on October 03, 2009
The movie is in excellent conditions and got here a lot faster than I expected. ...
by Joseph Manzione "... on June 23, 2009
I still remember seeing this movie at a Charlie Chaplin film festival in New York City in the 1970's. I went to laugh and to be see a great comedy ( which I did ) ,but, I left the Movie Theatre in TEARS !!!!!!!!!!. I actually sat there for a few minutes ...
by John D. Torre "Mu... on November 08, 2008
City Lights is regarded by many as Chaplin's best film. It is a serio-comedy that will make you laugh and make you cry. ...
by Andrew Ellington on August 25, 2008
Recently I had the privilege of catching part of a Charlie Chaplin marathon on TCM and I have to say that I am blown away with the man's genius. I've desperately wanted to get my hands on Chaplin's work since watching `Chaplin' starring Robert Downey Jr. ...
by ADRIENNE MILLER on April 27, 2008
City Lights directed by Charlie Chaplin and also stars in is such a cute and timeless silent film classic. In College, I took a film class and our professor said to watch one silent film so I chose City Lights not knowing what to expect. To my utter ...
by Aphraomega "Film ... on December 19, 2007
City Lights, as well as all Chaplin masterpeices, is shear genius. For any human being who ever dreamed of writing and directing a film, whether personal or intended for a large audience, City Lights is the text book to consult. Watch Chaplin's moves, ...
by N. Ewen "Noelle" on November 01, 2007
I had never seen a Chaplin film in full, nor ever heard of "City Lights", however I had seen the bio-pic "Chaplin" with Robert Downey Jr., and was aware that Chaplin was considered a genius. so one morning when I stumbled across "City Lights" while ...
by Craig Connell on September 06, 2007
I always thought this was one of Charlie Chaplin's nicest, most under-appreciated silent movie gems, and I am glad to see other Amazon reviewers agreeing.
Part of the reason I think so highly of this is simply that I'm a sentimentalist and story in ...
by D. Pawl "mariposa... on August 31, 2007
CITY LIGHTS is one of Charlie Chaplin's most well-known and well-loved films, along with GOLD RUSH, MODERN TIMES and THE GREAT DICTATOR. CITY LIGHTS is a heartbreaking film about The Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) and his quest to help a poor, blind ...
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