On The Great Dictator

The Great Dictator (1940), is one of Charlie Chaplin's only full-length films. In addition to acting in it, Chaplin also wrote and directed the picture. Another interesting note is that it is one of Chaplin's only "talkie" films.

Chaplin was best known for his short form silent films, where he portrayed The Tramp, a bumbling, lovable hobo who always seems to get into trouble. Before today, this was my only experience with Chaplin, albeit a very funny experience. In The Great Dictator, Chaplin takes on a decidedly tougher role. In fact, he plays TWO characters. He portrays Andenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania, and a "Jewish Barber" who has amnesia and forgets much of his life.

The whole film is a play on Hitler, Germany, and his Nazis. Instead of the swastika, Hynkel wears the "double-cross," and his right-hand-man is Officer Garbitsch (pronounced Garbage). The movie is hilariously funny, as well dramatic with great social commentary.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the picture, what impressed me most was the guts that Chaplin had in making this film at this time in history. It took balls. Censorship in America was at an all time high, Europe was imploding, yet Chaplin was able to muster up the courage to take jibes at everyone involved, and offer a look at what was happening, as many heads of state and even the Pope were turning the other way.

Today, we take such instant critique for granted, but in 1940, it was nothing short of revolutionary. The Holocaust had barely even begun, and Chaplin was already recognizing what a serious defamation of human rights it was becoming. Yet this movie is often neglected in film circles because it is either not one of Chaplin's "tramp" movies, or it is devalued because it was made by a comedian. It is a shame.