City Lights was directed by Charlie Chaplin and released in 1931. The film tells the story of a tramp (played by Chaplin) who falls in love with a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) and tries to help her raise money for an operation to restore her sight. Meanwhile, he also befriends a drunken millionaire (Harry Myers) who he saves from suicide, and the two become unlikely friends.
The film features Chaplin's signature blend of physical comedy and sentimentality, and is widely considered one of his greatest works. Despite being released well into the sound era, City Lights is a silent film, and is notable for featuring only one sound effect: a brief burst of music at the very end.
The movie was a critical and commercial success, and has since been recognized as a classic of American cinema. In 1991, it was added to the United States National Film Registry, and in 2007 it was ranked as the 11th greatest movie of all time by the American Film Institute.