The Great Dictator (1940)
8.285 /10
3787 Reviews
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Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania / A Jewish Barber
... Hannah
... Benzino Napaloni, Dictator of Bacteria
... Commander Schultz
... Garbitsch
User reviews
In September 1939, six days after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, Charlie Chaplin began filming his next feature. Drawing on the public perception of the similarities between himself and Adolf Hitler - not just his toothbrush moustache but also their upbringings - Chaplin sought to directly parody and attack the German führer and fascism.
In _The Great Dictator_, Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin) rules Tomania and sets about his conquest of the world. In doing so, he persecutes Jewish people, including a former veteran of World War I who is now a barber (also Chaplin).
Unsurprisingly, the film was a hit on release, resonating well with the anti-Nazi sentiment in both American and British public. Chaplin understood that delivering his political message was so important that he forewent his usual desire for a silent film in order to get his message across.
Sound is used to great effect in _The Great Dictator_. By studying many of Hitler's speeches, Chaplin was able to create a ludicrous, yet believable, gibberish parody of the Nazi leader's oratory style.
Of course, the physical comedy remains, typically reserved for the barber (who may or may not be Chaplin's silent hero, The Tramp). This combination of physical comedy and irreverent one liners together makes the film feel like a very early Carry On.
While _The Great Dictator_ remains arguably Chaplin's best "talkie", it often feels like it is the end of Chaplin's era of classical pantomime. People being hit on the head with a saucepan comes across as a cheap laugh and it is often the verbal jokes that are the cleverest. Overall the comedy has not aged well.
But _The Great Dictator_ was never designed for longevity. It was perfect propaganda for the Allies, released at a perfect point in the War. For that reason, The Great Dictator can only be judged in the context of its release.
Director:
Writer:
Charlie Chaplin (Screenplay)
Release Date:
1940-10-15
Run Time:
125 min
MMPA Rating:
NR
Reviews of
The Great Dictator
In September 1939, six days after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, Charlie Chaplin began filming his next feature. Drawing on the public perception of the similarities between himself and Adolf Hitler - not just his toothbrush moustache but also their upbringings - Chaplin sought to directly parody and attack the German führer and fascism.
In _The Great Dictator_, Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin) rules Tomania and sets about his conquest of the world. In doing so, he persecutes Jewish people, including a former veteran of World War I who is now a barber (also Chaplin).
Unsurprisingly, the film was a hit on release, resonating well with the anti-Nazi sentiment in both American and British public. Chaplin understood that delivering his political message was so important that he forewent his usual desire for a silent film in order to get his message across.
Sound is used to great effect in _The Great Dictator_. By studying many of Hitler's speeches, Chaplin was able to create a ludicrous, yet believable, gibberish parody of the Nazi leader's oratory style.
Of course, the physical comedy remains, typically reserved for the barber (who may or may not be Chaplin's silent hero, The Tramp). This combination of physical comedy and irreverent one liners together makes the film feel like a very early Carry On.
While _The Great Dictator_ remains arguably Chaplin's best "talkie", it often feels like it is the end of Chaplin's era of classical pantomime. People being hit on the head with a saucepan comes across as a cheap laugh and it is often the verbal jokes that are the cleverest. Overall the comedy has not aged well.
But _The Great Dictator_ was never designed for longevity. It was perfect propaganda for the Allies, released at a perfect point in the War. For that reason, The Great Dictator can only be judged in the context of its release.
Forever great, forever relevant as dictators and dictator-wannabes do their best to deprive the humans of their humanity.
Cast & Crew of
The Great Dictator
Cast
... Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania / A Jewish Barber
... Hannah
... Benzino Napaloni, Dictator of Bacteria
... Commander Schultz
... Garbitsch
... Field Marshal Herring
... Madame Napaloni
... Spook
... Mr. Jaeckel
... Mrs. Jaeckel
... Mr. Mann
... Mr. Agar
... Barber's Customer
... Jewish Woman
... Storm Trooper Stealing Fruit
... Blonde Secretary
... Tomanian Storm Trooper
... Tomanian Commandant at Osterlich / Robert O. Davis
... Whitewashed Storm Trooper
... Secretary
... Commander of Storm Troopers
... Heinrich Schtick / Translator (voice)
... Soldier (uncredited)
... Tomainian Prison Guard in 1918 (uncredited)
... Compact Parachute Inventor (uncredited)
... Tomanian Officer (uncredited)
... Ghetto Extra (uncredited)
... Reporter from International Press (uncredited)
... Sculptor (uncredited)
... Hospital Superintendent (uncredited)
... Jewish Man (uncredited)
... Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
... Friendly Storm Trooper (uncredited)
... Storm Trooper (uncredited)
... Officer (uncredited)
... Policeman (uncredited)
... Big Bertha Gunnery Officer (uncredited)
... Man Seated on Bed (uncredited)
... Banquet Butler (uncredited)
... Blonde Secretary (uncredited)
... Bald Barbershop Customer (uncredited)
... Hynkel's Staff Officer (uncredited)
... Jewish Woman (uncredited)
... Dance Extra at Ball (uncredited)
... Jewish Man (uncredited)
... Storm Trooper Officer (uncredited)
... Officer Extra (uncredited)
... Soldier (uncredited)
... Soldier in 1918 Tomainia (uncredited)
... Soldier (uncredited)
... Jewish Fruit Stand Proprietor (uncredited)
... Prison Guard (uncredited)
... Officer (uncredited)
... Hynkel's Barber (uncredited)
... Soldier in Field (uncredited)
... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
... Storm Trooper (uncredited)
... Aggie (uncredited)
... Conductor (uncredited)
... Soldier (uncredited)
... Woman in Crowd (uncredited)
... Ball Guest (uncredited)
... Ball Guest (uncredited)
... Soldier (uncredited)
... Professor Herr Kibitzen (uncredited)
Crew
... Director
... Producer
... Director of Photography
... Director of Photography
... Editor
... Art Direction
... Set Decoration
... Makeup Artist
... Sound Designer
... Sound Designer
... Original Music Composer
... Original Music Composer
... Second Unit
... Special Effects
... Visual Effects
... Stunts
... Associate Producer
... Assistant Director
... Costume Supervisor
... Orchestrator
... Orchestrator
... Production Manager
... Construction Foreman
... Electrician
... Production Secretary
... Screenplay
Videos & Photos of
The Great Dictator
Videos (2)
Photos 39
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