1940 – Charlie Chaplin
The Great Dictator
The Hollywood icon, Charlie Chaplin was mostly known for his work in silent films. But here, he had something to say. So he said it, which is more significant than you might think. Chaplin continued to make silent films, even in the sound era, and this was his first real sound film, and he really did a great job. He was incredible! Yes, a lot of it was silly comedy, but he clearly knew what he was doing.
So the movie, which was not only acted by Chaplin, but also written, directed, produced, and scored by the man, was an anti-war movie. WWII was really starting to pick up, and Chaplin obviously had very strong feelings about what was happening in the world. But he was also a comedian, so a lot of the kind of comedy that he employed in his earlier films, also made their way into this one. But as it was a sound film, he got to show just how talented an actor he actually was.
I cite three things in the film that totally impressed me. First, his parody of Adolph Hitler, called here, Adenoid Hynkel, was hilarious and technically difficult. The silly dialogue in his public speech was made up of nonsense German phraseology and ethnic chatter. And he rattled it all off without ever breaking character, fumbling his words, or even pausing to collect his thoughts. It was both funny and amazing. He had to have spent an unbelievable number of hours rehearsing that monologue. Second was the scene where he danced with a balloon that was a globe of the world. It was incredibly comical, and surprisingly poignant, portraying Hitler as a man who saw the world as his own personal toy, a play thing with which to amuse himself. Through Chaplin’s dance, he commented on the real dictator’s megalomania and his careless attitude toward the people living on the planet.
But I believe it was his final speech that earned him his Oscar nomination. At the film’s climax, Chaplin abandons everything to speak directly to the movie-going audiences. He leaves behind the movie’s narrative, its comedy, and its characters, and gives an amazing three-and-a-half minute impassioned speech, condemning hate and pleading with people all over the world to embrace love and brotherhood. It was an intense moment that is just as relevant today as it was in 1940.