Director Charlie Chaplin got the idea for The Gold Rush during a visit to Pickfair, the Beverly Hills home of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. While viewing the couple’s collection of stereoscopic cards, he came across one depicting the Chilkoot Pass, which prospectors had to cross to get to the goldfields of the Klondike. This and the story of the Donner party inspired his film.
The personal blog of filmmaker Dimitri Vorris.