City Lights (1931)

Charlie Chaplin plays his most famous character, the Tramp, in this hilarious and heartwarming "comedy romance" (a com-rom?) from 1931. Even though sound films were common by 1931, City Lights was produced as a silent film. Well, kind of silent. The Tramp only really works as a silent character, so the film was made as if it was a silent movie, although it does have a soundtrack, sound effects, and some imitation speech towards the beginning. But, apart from that, the film is entirely mimed, with intertitles used in place of dialogue and to introduce scenes.

The Tramp meets and falls in love with a blind girl selling flowers. She falls for him too, and circumstances lead her to believe that he is a wealthy man. The Tramp also bumps into a suicidal millionaire. He saves the millionaire's life, they have a few drinks and go out for a night on the town. The next day, the millionaire doesn't have a clue who his new friend is and sends him away. The Tramp and the millionaire re-unite a couple more times, resuming their friendship while under the influence, but the Tramp earns nothing but a firm rebuttal when sober.

Meanwhile, the Tramp learns that the blind flower girl and her grandmother are struggling financially. He wants to help them by finding work and partaking in a rigged boxing match, with little success with either. Money comes his way