City Lights 1931

The story unfolds in a bustling city where the local officials unveil a grand new statue, inadvertently finding The Tramp sleeping atop it. As he is shooed away, he wanders aimlessly through the streets, grappling with the harsh realities of homelessness and destitution. His woes are compounded when he becomes the target of two mischievous newsboys, who delight in tormenting him. Amidst his struggles, he fortuitously encounters a beautiful Flower Girl, portrayed by Virginia Cherrill, only to discover, much to his surprise, that she is blind. He buys a flower from her, and just when she is about to offer him change, a man enters a nearby luxury car, leading her to conclude that The Tramp has left. Quietly, he tiptoes away, setting into motion a series of poignant events.

That very evening, while pondering his fate, The Tramp encounters a despondent Millionaire, played by Harry Myers, who is contemplating suicide by the waterfront. The millionaire’s situation is dire, exacerbated by the fact that his wife has apparently summoned for her bags. In a heartfelt moment, The Tramp intervenes, persuading him that life is worth living. Grateful for this intervention, the millionaire brings The Tramp back to his opulent mansion, providing him with a change of clothes. Together, they embark on an escapade into the night, and their adventure is filled with unintentional chaos instigated by The Tramp’s antics.

As dawn approaches, they return to the mansion, and there, they unexpectedly encounter the Flower Girl en route to her usual flower vending spot. In a gesture of kindness, The Tramp requests money from the Millionaire, using it to buy all of her flowers while whisking her away in the millionaire’s luxurious Rolls-Royce. After their bittersweet encounter, the Flower Girl eagerly shares her story with her Grandmother, played by Florence Lee, speaking of her mysterious wealthy friend. However, fate takes a cruel twist when the Millionaire, having sobered up, fails to recognize The Tramp and instructs the butler to eject him from the premises.

Yet, the Millionaire’s memory lapses don’t end there; later, while intoxicated once more, he invites The Tramp back for another grand soirée, only to forget him again the following day, right before departing for a cruise. With a heavy heart, The Tramp returns to the Flower Girl’s apartment, only to find her receiving medical attention from a doctor. Determined to help her, he resolves to earn money by becoming a street sweeper, all while the Grandmother receives an eviction notice that she tries to keep hidden from her granddaughter.

During a brief lunch break, The Tramp visits the Flower Girl, where he sees an article about a doctor who has developed a surgical procedure that can restore her sight. His heart swells with hope as he promises to take care of their rent issues. However, his good intentions lead to misfortune when he is subsequently fired for returning late to work. In a stroke of desperation, The Tramp gets roped into a staged boxing match, but chaos prevails when his opponent flees, leaving him to take on the fight alone. Despite his valiant efforts, he inevitably gets knocked out.

Time passes, and one day The Tramp serendipitously encounters the Millionaire once more, who has just returned from Europe. The Millionaire, feeling generous after hearing about the Flower Girl’s circumstances, gifts The Tramp a whopping $1,000, unbeknownst to both men that two burglars lurk nearby, overhearing this exchange. As tension escalates, the thieves incapacitate the Millionaire and rob him blind, leaving The Tramp to navigate the chaos and call the police, albeit too late to catch the criminals. Regrettably, The Millionaire later forgets all about The Tramp, who is subsequently wrongfully accused of theft.

After months of imprisonment, The Tramp rejoins society and desperately seeks out the Flower Girl, returning to her usual corner, only to discover she is no longer there. With her sight restored, she has flourished into a successful flower shop owner alongside her Grandmother. When a wealthy customer enters her shop, she entertains fleeting thoughts that perhaps he is her benefactor, but he departs without a word, and reality strikes her once more. As The Tramp inadvertently grabs a flower from the gutter outside her shop, he finds himself in a playful confrontation with the same relentless newsboys from before.

Just as he prepares to leave, he locks eyes with the Flower Girl through the shop window. In a moment of serendipity, despair gives way to elation as he forgets about the flower he just clutched. The Flower Girl, recognizing his selflessness, kindly offers him a fresh bloom along with a coin. As she places the coin in his hand, something magical happens; their hands touch, and she suddenly comprehends his essence and the whirlwind of emotions they have shared. “You?” she gasps, and in reply, he nods, inquiring, “You can see now?” Overwhelmed with joy, she responds through tears, “Yes, I can see now.” The final moments see The Tramp smiling shyly, radiating warmth and hope, as the film gracefully closes on their heartwarming connection.