Our own John Foote made an interesting point in our Pixar list from yesterday. Concerning the final shot of “Monsters, Inc.” (which brings your humble teddy bear servant to a near tear every time), Foote writes that it is a “lovely Chaplin homage…when the big monster (Sully) opens the door to Boo’s room and smiles — reminds me of Chaplin in ‘City Lights.’”
“City Lights” is one of my all time favorite films, so I’m shocked I never made this connection before. I went searching to see if anything has ever been written about it, but beyond the two shots popping up on numerous “greatest final shots” lists, I can’t seem to dig anything up. Maybe there’s no connection to be made and it’s purely a coincidental thing, but I don’t know. I like the idea of something this subtle showing up in a Pixar film.
Here are both shots, side-by-side and in the context of the final scenes. The “Monsters, Inc.” clip is a bit long but it’s the best one I could find:
Comments
6 responses to “Never occurred to me”
Hmmm. I don’t really see it.
Maybe not.
Oh, ok. I thought I must’ve been missing something for not seeing it. Haha.
Unfortunately the MI clip cuts off abruptly, spoiling the overall effect. But I kinda, sorta see it.
I never noticed it before, but I can see it now. Just some subtle similarities. I also got a chaplin vibe from the sense of humor in WALL*E.
It’s the look of absolute love and adoration in the eyes of Chaplin and Sully — Chaplin does his with utter silence and that wonderful face, Sully does his with that face and ‘Hey Boo…” which also brings into it Scout seeing Boo Radley for the first time in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and knowing for the first time he is no threat — these Pixar guys are sublime artists…movie lovers all, and I do not think it is by accident…but I could be reading too much into it, I will concede that. Thanks Kris, for sort of seeing it…watch the whole clip.