City of Gold main backdrop
City of Gold main poster

City of Gold

Visit website

5.5/10 • 11

1957-05-020h 22m

HistoryDocumentary

This classic short film depicts the Klondike gold rush at its peak, when would-be prospectors struggled through harsh conditions to reach the fabled gold fields over 3000 km north of civilization. Using a collection of still photographs, the film juxtaposes the Dawson City at the height of the gold rush with its bustling taverns and dance halls with the more tranquil Dawson City of the present.

Directors
Wolf Koenig, Colin Low
Writters
Roman Kroitor, Pierre Berton, Gilbert Choquette
Editors
Roman Kroitor, Pierre Berton, Gilbert Choquette, Tom Daly

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Pierre Berton

    Pierre Berton

    Narrator (voice)

Reviews1

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Feb 16, 2024

6/10

The first few scenes illustrate a town that little resembles the famed towns of the gold rush. Dawson City as it now is has a restaurant where people drink coffee with saucers under their cups under the gaze of a picture of The Queen on the wall. Now, all of the frenzy has gone and much of this place is abandoned and derelict. Nature is reclaiming the land so hastily claimed from it seven decades earlier - even the old railway engines and steam boats lie abandoned and untouched. Back in the 1890s, though, over one hundred thousand opportunists turned up expecting to make it rich - and the variety of photographs shown here remind us of just how ill-equipped many were for the wintery conditions this terrain could generate. 70 feet of snow fell in just one year whilst the would-be pan-handlers lived in huge tented villages building handmade boats. What was even more remarkable was the lack of violence. Apparently not one single murder took place during the whole excavation period! There is not a lot of moving imagery here, but the lively score and informed narration, as well as the diverse selection of pristine and informative images shows us just how tough life was for those looking for that all-important "paystreak", and of just how many left with nothing, bankrupt and broken. At $5 for a glass of milk, it's not hard to understand why.

Media

  • City of Gold backdrop

Recommendations

  • Beverly Hills Cop II main backdrop

    Beverly Hills Cop II

    6.5

  • Star! main backdrop

    Star!

    6.9

  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets main backdrop

    Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

    7.7

  • Cocoon: The Return main backdrop

    Cocoon: The Return

    6.5

  • Millennium Actress main backdrop

    Millennium Actress

    7.8

  • Chou Deneiban SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors main backdrop

    Chou Deneiban SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors

    6.1

  • Toy Story 2 main backdrop

    Toy Story 2

    7.6

  • Hotel Chevalier main backdrop

    Hotel Chevalier

    6.9

  • Mater Private Eye main backdrop

    Mater Private Eye

    6.2

  • No Backdrop

    Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk I

    5.9

  • Beverly Hills Cop III main backdrop

    Beverly Hills Cop III

    5.9

  • Triller Fight Club Presents: Triad Combat - Pulev vs. Mir main backdrop

    Triller Fight Club Presents: Triad Combat - Pulev vs. Mir

    8.2

  • Death Watch main backdrop

    Death Watch

    6.3

  • Absolut main backdrop

    Absolut

    7.6

  • Lethal Weapon 3 main backdrop

    Lethal Weapon 3

    6.7

  • Gunpowder main backdrop

    Gunpowder

    5.9

  • No Backdrop

    AA

    6.5

  • No Backdrop

    Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk IV

    4.4

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 main backdrop

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

    7.7

  • No Backdrop

    Test

    7.5

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
gold rush