Come to Get Rich, Stay for Comedy: "The Gold Rush" Quiz

Answer: Alaska

One intertitle card refers to Alaska and a second references the Chilkoot Pass. There is also a recreation of a famous photograph of miners climbing a snow-covered mountain along a zig-zag path. (This particular piece of footage - the only bit filmed on location - was actually filmed in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains.) Throughout most exterior scenes in the movie, "snow" is usually quite abundant.

Answer: The Lone Prospector

Chaplin's character is listed by his name in the opening credits that include the name of five other named characters. In the 1942 reissue of "The Gold Rush", Chaplin's narration often refers to the character as "the little fellow". To be fair, Chaplin wears largely the same outfit that is associated with his "tramp" character - an ill-fitting suit, bowler hat, and cane. We sometimes see the prospector with an additional layer - a pair of gloves, or a scarf, or shawl to ward off the Alaskan cold.

Answer: A candle

In the movie, Chaplin takes the candle out of a lantern and eats it while Black Larsen (played by Tom Murray) is not looking. Black Larsen hears the hiccups, but never seems to find the proof that Chaplin has eaten the candle. Perhaps the fact that Black Larson himself - on run from the law - has been stranded in the cabin and has grown quite hungry may have distracted him. On a personal note, I think someone would have to be pretty hungry to consider eating a candle.

Answer: Black Larsen

First Big Jim (played by Mack Swain) draws a king. Next, the Little Prospector draws a three. He angrily throws the card down on the table and goes for his hat and scarf, certain he had drawn the low card. When Black Larsen draws a two, the Little Prospector hurriedly puts his scarf and hat back on the hook.

Answer: A shoe

In one of the classic scenes in silent movie history, Chaplin boils his right shoe in a pot. As he brings the plate with the cooked shoe to the table, the camera shows his right shoe missing from his foot. The Little Prospector and Big Jim each try to claim the larger piece of this "meal". In reality the shoe was made of black licorice.

Answer: He falls in an avalanche

Black Larsen is spotted by two men who I believe are officers of the law using a copy of the wanted poster we saw him holding earlier. Although the two men also have guns, Black Larsen is able to shoot them rather than the reverse. When he discovers Big Jim's claim, he gets into a fight with Big Jim. Black Larsen hits Big Jim in the face with a shovel which causes Big Jim to lose his memory.

Afterwards, Black Larson wanders off and steps onto a loose patch of snow at the edge of a cliff. We don't see the outcome of the resulting avalanche, but I think it is safe to assume that he falls to his death.

Answer: She is a dance hall girl

We see Georgia (played by Georgia Hale) enter the dance hall. Later in the building she dances with several men, including the Little Prospector. In the town, the character of Jack (played by Malcolm Waite) pursues Georgia - seemingly for no good purpose.

Answer: Beans and coffee

The Little Prospector lays down in front of Hank's cabin pretending to be unconscious and frozen which plays on Hank's sympathy. Chaplin's narrative indicates that the smell of the beans and coffee had drawn the Prospector's attention. Poor Hank ends up serving multiple servings of each to Chaplin's character. Later, Hank indicates that he has to travel and ask the Little Prospector to watch his cabin for him.

Answer: New Year's Eve

The Little Prospector pays for this dinner by working at clearing snow for various businesses in town. He decorates the cabin and cooks the dinner - including a roast of some kind. Falling asleep, he imagines entertaining Georgia and his friends. This includes the famous scene where he acts out a dance using a pair of rolls and a pair of forks as a pair of legs.

Some early movie audiences are said to have demanded the theater rewind the film and show the scene a second time. In this part of the movie, the scenes in the cabin alternate with scenes in the dance hall where a sign reading "Happy New Year" is visible.

Answer: He becomes wealthy

Big Jim has amnesia from his struggle with Black Larsen. When the Little Prospector sees him, he is able to get his memory back. Returning to the cabin, Big Jim is able to find his way back to his claim so he can mine the gold there. Splitting his wealth with the Little Prospector, he and Big Jim each become multi-millionaires. Travelling on a boat, the Little Prospector is reunited with Georgia. With their passionate kiss (in the original) or holding hands (in the reissue), the movie ends.