This week in 1931

City Lights Premiere by Sasha

Crowds gather outside London’s Dominion cinema on the opening night, 27 February 1931. took nearly two years to complete, and saw Chaplin sticking with the silent film format despite the rising popularities in ‘the talkies’. The only advantage of sound he took was the opportunity to record a score for the film, which he composed himself. Despite being unusual, the film proved to be a critical, popular and financial success, with many people still regarding the piece as a masterpiece of filmmaking.