There are some phrases I dream of saying out loud. “I can see” is at the top of my list.
I began my visual journey back in 2000 when I was told I had lost over 90% of my sight within just one year. I was told at this rate, I would be blind in two years, and I should make plans to see all that I dreamed of seeing over the next few years. As a theatre arts teacher, who depends on what is presented before me, this was a career death sentence. I was in shock. I was scared. I had no idea where my future would take me. My creative, solid world was turned upside down. I identified myself as a visual, creative professional. How could I tell others what I saw them doing versus what I envisioned in my brain? How could I make my darkened world and reality meet? It was, quite simply, the beginning of the end of what I loved doing. I retired four years later.
Over the years, I was considered one of the lucky ones. I have defied the odds. Two decades later, I still have some vision left, mostly in one eye, but hey, I can see. I owe this to my excellent eye specialists, laser procedures, medications, and surgeries. I have used every trick currently known in scientific circles. My own doctor has said many times, “You should have been blind years ago.” But I know in my soul, I am not done yet. I have more to “see” and experience. I have loved ones whom I want to watch grow old. My mantra is… “today is a good day. I can see.”
The 1931 silent film, CITY LIGHTS, has always caught the attention of my eyes. It was produced, written, directed, and starred by one brilliant man, Charlie Chaplin. He wrote a story about a blind flower girl who found love and a cure for her blindness through the generosity of Chaplin’s iconic character, the Tramp. Yes, love is blind. But the irony of this tale was the final line, the flower girl tearfully expressed. “I can see now.” Cue lighting and reach for your Kleenex.
CITY LIGHTS was filmed when “talkies” had already arrived in Hollywood, but Chaplin was afraid the public would only accept him as a silent movie star. It was a risk he was willing to take and proved to be financially and creatively correct. It was the quiet love story the world craved at this time, mixed uniquely with every comedic schtick humanly possible. This was especially true with the huge boxing scene, the car chases, the drunken rolling around, and the falling off the river dock too many times to count. Audiences howled with laughter and shed silent tears of torment and joy. It was and is a masterpiece.
Chaplin was not an easy director to get along with. He demanded perfection. The opening sequence was shot over 300 times until Chaplin felt it was right. CITY LIGHTS took over six months to film and went way over budget. It was in production for two years before the cameras ever started rolling, but in the end, Chaplin was satisfied with the results, and it was said to be his favorite film.
Virginia Cherrill portrayed the blind girl. She was cast because she had a way of making herself appear blind by staring into the distance. She was stunningly gorgeous, but she did not get along with Chaplin. At one point, he wanted to fire her, but he knew it would cost too much to re-shoot all the scenes that had already been done. In the end, she was the perfect actress for the part. Her intensity drew you in, making audiences feel the depths of her despair as well as her love for the Tramp. Every frame she was a part of was hypnotic.
Physical comedy is not easy to do. It must look authentic and effortless. This is what Charlie Chaplin is known for. He has the gift to make the impossible… believable. He can express every emotion from the top of his head to his famous, open-toed stance. When directing, he would play every part in a scene to show the actors exactly what he wanted them to do. Most critics believe that he would’ve been happy playing every role in all of his movies. He was the consummate actor with a huge ego.
CITY LIGHTS is one of the best underdog, comedic classics of all time. It boasts hilarious slapstick mixed with anguish and sadness. The Tramp embodies dignity in the face of all the hardships most people endure. He holds the light up for all to see… including me.
CITY LIGHTS is available on Netflix.
