#34 The Great Dictator

Genre: comedy drama

Director: Charlie Chaplin, Wheeler Dryden

Producer: Charlie Chaplin

Writer: Charlie Chaplin

Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie

Music by: Charlie Chaplin, Meredith Willson

Duration: approximately 7,440 seconds

Wikipedia: wiki about the movie

"This is the story of the period between two world wars - an interim during which insanity cut loose, liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat." With this pithy opening title, Charles Chaplin begins his first all-talking feature film, The Great Dictator. During World War I, a Jewish barber (Chaplin) in the army of Tomania saves the life of high-ranking officer Schultz (Reginald Gardiner). While Schultz survives the conflict unscathed, the barber is stricken with amnesia and bundled off to a hospital. Twenty years pass: Tomania has been taken over by dictator Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin again) and his stooges Garbitsch (Henry Daniell) and Herring (Billy Gilbert). Hynkel despises all Jews and regularly wreaks havoc on the Tomanian Jewish ghetto, where feisty Hannah (Paulette Goddard) lives. Meanwhile, the little barber escapes from the hospital and instinctively heads back to his cobweb-laden ghetto barber shop. Unaware of Hynkel's policy towards Jews (in fact, he's unaware of Hynkel), the barber gets into a slapstick confrontation with a gang of Aryan storm troopers.

After a five-year absence from movies, Charles Chaplin took on a dual role in his first full-length talking feature, famous for its comic attack on Nazi Germany (and Adolf Hitler in particular). The script was written before Hitler's invasion of Poland, and Chaplin subsequently noted that, had he known the scope of the evil perpetrated on Europe by the Nazis, he would never have made them the subject of this lampoon. Not as maniacally funny as Chaplin's classic comedies of the 1920s, The Great Dictator has more in common with Chaplin's later films, which were more lyrical in approach and more overt in their socio-political messages. In this case, the proselytising turned out to be prescient, as Hitler would soon prove Chaplin's concerns well-founded. This was one of very few films made in the West before World War II that dared to take on Hitler and Mussolini. Still, many critics found fault with Chaplin's approach, claiming that, by portraying German Nazis and Italian Fascists as schoolyard bullies and buffoons, Chaplin was cheapening the impact of their evil actions on millions of Europeans. Despite these criticisms, Chaplin's lampooning of Hitler is a moment of comic genius, complemented by Jack Oakie's ridiculously exaggerated portrayal of the Mussolini-like Italian fascist (nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor). The Great Dictator is loosely structured, lacking the tight pace and sense of direction of Chaplin's best films: its long-winded concluding speech is the most egregious example. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Chaplin for Best Actor. After a five-year absence from movies, Charles Chaplin took on a dual role in his first full-length talking feature, famous for its comic attack on Nazi Germany (and Adolf Hitler in particular). The script was written before Hitler's invasion of Poland, and Chaplin subsequently noted that, had he known the scope of the evil perpetrated on Europe by the Nazis, he would never have made them the subject of this lampoon. Not as maniacally funny as Chaplin's classic comedies of the 1920s, The Great Dictator has more in common with Chaplin's later films, which were more lyrical in approach and more overt in their socio-political messages. In this case, the proselytising turned out to be prescient, as Hitler would soon prove Chaplin's concerns well-founded. This was one of very few films made in the West before World War II that dared to take on Hitler and Mussolini. Still, many critics found fault with Chaplin's approach, claiming that, by portraying German Nazis and Italian Fascists as schoolyard bullies and buffoons, Chaplin was cheapening the impact of their evil actions on millions of Europeans. Despite these criticisms, Chaplin's lampooning of Hitler is a moment of comic genius, complemented by Jack Oakie's ridiculously exaggerated portrayal of the Mussolini-like Italian fascist (nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor). The Great Dictator is loosely structured, lacking the tight pace and sense of direction of Chaplin's best films: its long-winded concluding speech is the most egregious example. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Chaplin for Best Actor.

14 comments

#1, by karolek_24, on 26 March 2020, 9:52 pm

A very nice movie. I really enjoyed Chaplin's role as a caricature of Hitler. For me the best shot of this film was how he juggled the earth globe. It was very funny. I think that this film significantly contributed to changing the mood during World War II.

#2, by izabela_g, on 29 March 2020, 7:19 pm

I don’t like old movies, but this one was fine. I liked the character Hannah the most who was able to oppose the stormtroopers. Hannah showed that the frying pan isn’t just for frying. It can also be a good weapon.

#3, by Karolina, on 30 March 2020, 9:56 am

The best scene in this film is the dance of Hitler with the globe, which suddenly bursts when he is in his arms. This is a prophetic scene that symbolizes that Hitler will never gain power over the world. I don't know the second movie with such a smart ending.Great movie!

#4, by julia.a, on 30 March 2020, 3:35 pm

It was a quite nice movie. I really liked the moment, when the Jewish barber started to shave Hannah. I also liked her, as she was the only one able to talk back to the stormtroopers.

#5, by weronika_k, on 30 March 2020, 5:04 pm

,,The Great Dictator’’ was the first movie with Charles Chaplin I’ve ever seen. The sense of humor is really specific and unusual these days, but I liked it. I enjoyed the most barber’s final speech as a dictator. He called people to respect each other, regardless of their nationality or skin color. The audience’s reaction was so unexpected for me. This move is definitely worth watching!

#6, by Binio, on 30 March 2020, 10:24 pm

It is a great movie. Chaplin's role here is rally good, I haven't watched any of his films before but it encouraged me to do it. My favorite scene is when Hannah beats stormtroopers with frying pan (frying pan is a overpowered weapon), and the last speech was beautiful, it was really nice and funny to see guy who is a Hitler in this movie saying those things.

#7, by Julia512, on 30 March 2020, 10:25 pm

Well at first I thought that it would be two long hours but I have to admit I was wrong. I actually enjoyed the movie. My favorite scene was a little flight upside down. The way they showed the conflict between Hynkel and Napaloni was great too. For a comedy movie the ending was surprisingly really sad and touching. People knew that what was happening in their country was bad, but they were too scared to resist...

#8, by OliwiaS., on 31 March 2020, 3:54 pm

It's not often that I get a chance to watch an old movie, but they have their charm and "The Great Dictator" was no different. Charlie Chaplin has his spark that got me hooked on this movie. I was surprised to see such good special effects for those times. I loved the vegetarian pun during the conversation the barber had with the pilot he saved years ago. After nearly getting hanged by the stormtroopers.

#9, by aleksander_p, on 31 March 2020, 11:43 pm

"The Great Dictator" was the first old movie I've ever seen. Despite the fact that almost 80 years have passed since its premiere, the film is still relevant. It shows that we must reckon with everyone, even those whose ideas seem irriational...

#10, by OliwierRich, on 31 March 2020, 11:49 pm

Personally, I really like this movie. Maybe it is black and white film, but it doesn't bothered me to have fun. My favourite scene was, when Charlie Chaplin got lost in a fog and started walking with the enemies. I have learned a lot from this film too ,especially from the ending. I give 10 points of Richter scale to this film:)

The last modyfication on 31 March 2020, 11:53 pm, by OliwierRich

#11, by natalia._.c, on 01 April 2020, 6:14 pm

In my opinion it is a very good film, and the way the story is presented determines the genius of the film. For making it almost 80 years ago, and it can make you laugh. The viewer observes the events from two perspectives that merge into one, excellent ending. However, the level of humor in the middle of the movie is changing.

#12, by Cottage, on 03 April 2020, 10:40 am

thanks for all your comments... i am glad u enjoyed the movie... i saw it for the first time when i was a kid and have loved it ever since... it's a wise, funny, poignant at times motion picture, which chaplin made while hitler was invading europe...
some trivia:
1. charlie was only 4 days older than adolf
2. adolf was charlie's big fan... have u noticed the moustache?
3. https://dziennikzachodni.pl/johann-jambor-uratowalem-zycie-adolfowi-hitlerowi/ar/381167

The last modyfication on 03 April 2020, 10:40 am, by Cottage

#13, by swm4r, on 22 April 2020, 5:47 pm