The Great Dictator (1940)

The Great Dictator (1940) – A satirical look at the rise of a dictator with dreams of ruling the world and the little people whose lives he shapes.

Directed by Charlie Chaplin                                       Starring – Charlie Chaplin, Pauline Goddard

This was the silent film star’s first full “talking” film, and his biggest financial success.  Chaplin hung on to the silent film longer than any other star.  I still find it strange when I hear his voice.

Chaplin plays two roles here.  First, the title’s dictator, Adenoid Hinkel, and secondly, a Jewish barber who still recovering from injuries he received in the first World War.  He manages to escape from the hospital where he has lived for twenty years, but believes that it has only been a matter of weeks or months since he was admitted.  The world he returns to is very different than the one he left.

“The Great Dictator” is a direct shot at what was happening in Germany and Chaplin’s Hynkel character is clearly based on Adolph Hitler.  The film was banned by Hitler (and actually not shown in Germany until a decade after the war was over).  The real life dictator is said to have watched the movie twice, but his reaction is not known.

There are two real signature pieces to the movie.  The first is a “dance” section where Hynkel is playing with a large balloon version of the planet.  It looks rather strange today, but at the time this was a familiar act in vaudeville.  It was usually done by female burlesque performers, which would have made Chaplin’s version very funny to the contemporary audience.  Keep that in mind as you watch it and it makes much more sense (and a lot more fun!).  The other piece is the speech given right at the end of the movie.  It is passionate and compassionate.  The words ring with amazing immediacy even 70+ years later.  This is sometimes called the greatest speech ever made in the movies.

For the modern viewer raised on modern movie story telling, watching movies from before World War II can be strange.  Both acting and storytelling were different then.  Chaplin is especially different because his storytelling and acting is based so deeply in the silent era.  Prepare for that going in and you will be rewarded on this movie.

Why I Liked It – Chaplin’s careful structure of the story, mixing physical comedy with important ideas.

Why You Will Like It – Truly funny moments, truly poignant moments, some fun interplay between Chaplin and, at the time, the real life Mrs. Chaplin, Pauline Goddard.

Rating – **** Recommended