| FILMS | AT THE GRANGE | CITY LIGHTS | ||
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More than he bargained for.
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 Charlie Chaplin Chaplin's last silent film, CITY LIGHTS will be presented at Cannon Grange, Wilton, CT on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 7:30 pm. A classic of the time, children and adults will enjoy this cliassic comedy from the golden age of silent cinema, with live piano accompaniment. Noted silent film accompanist and film historian John Mucci of Wilton will play a live score. Refreshments will be served at 7:00 pm, and the films will begin at 7:30 pm. Admission is $8 per person, $15 for 2, and $5 for students through High School. Tickets are available at the door, or call the Grange at 203-762-1900 for more information. The Wilton Cannon
Grange Hall, at 25 Cannon Road has ample parking available on site and at the Cannondale
Railroad Station. ABOUT THE FILM: CITY LIGHTS (1931) Chaplin was not one to let the advent of sound film stop him from doing what he considered he did the best: making silent comedy! While he originally issued this film with his own music score and sound effects, it really is a silent film of his late period that fits in perfectly with "The Circus" from 1928, and was the last truly silent film he made until "Modern Times" a few years later (and even in that film his character of "The Tramp" didn't speak). We will be presenting the film with live piano accompaniment and a dazzling array of sound effects to match those Chaplin indicated in the original. The story concerns the all-but destitute Tramp who falls in love with a blind flower girl (played by Virginia Cherrill) -- who mistakenly believes he is a millionaire. As though that were not hopeless enough, Charlie falls in with a suicidal millionaire who is devoted to him for saving his life. The only catch is that the real millionaire can only remember who Charlie is when he has had too much to drink, and hasn't a clue who Charlie is when he is sober. The comedy is tinged with pathos, and the sentimentality is overturned with slapstick, so that "City Lights" remains one of the most inventive films of the time, and is frequently cited as one of the best comedies ever. Chaplin maintained that it was his favorite film. Chaplin worked on this film for more than two years, changing the storyline and even firing and re-hiring his leading lady, shooting one scene with her hundreds and hundreds of times until he felt she had it right. None of the strain of making the film shows in the final outcome.
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