Review of Modern Times (1936) by Mike M — 04 Jul 2012

Modern machinery meets the Tramp, stacking the odds against him like never before in Modern Times. Homelessness, hunger, misunderstandings that somehow always work against him - yep, they're all - this time conspiring against the Tramp within the context of the expanding industrial age as man merges with machine.

First flick of Chaplin's with sound effects - along with a song number sung by Chaplin himself. Brilliant comedy (in particular as Chaplin becomes the unwilling guinea pig to an automatic food-feeder, made so workers can "enjoy" lunch without leaving the line) coupled with brilliant social comedy.

Chaplin films will live forever. Modern Times is but one reason why.