Review of A King in New York (1957) by Biff M — 13 Nov 2007

François Truffaut once referred to "A King in New York" as a flawed masterpiece. While I'd be tempted to put all of Chaplin's "talking" films in this category, "A King in New York" is special, both because I think it is more seriously flawed than his other sound movies and because it is also more important.

The satire is hit or miss, but when it hits it is with such remarkable clarity that it takes the breath away. I don't think I've ever heard an attack on American corporatization quite so succinct and accurate as the one put into the mouth of Rupert Macabee (played perfectly by Chaplin's own ten year old son).

Warren Beatty's "Bulworth" has nothing on young Rupert.