Review of Modern Times (1936) by Ryan H — 19 May 2012

I have heard people say that Chaplin continued to make silent films well into the talkie era, and while that's true, Modern Times isn't a totally silent film. Mixing talkie with silent was perfect for what he sets out to accomplish with this film.

Chaplin plays a factory worker who doesn't have the mechanical ability to work in a factory. He tries to keep up with the assembly line, but as things get faster the more things go wrong. He can't wipe sweat off his forehead or swat away a bee.

Everyone else seems to be fine. They become a part of the machine. What's even worse, the company's trying to take away their break time. He can't smoke in the bathroom for a few minutes and later on the company tries to get a mechanical feeder so the workers have a shorter lunch (Chaplin attached to the feeder is one of the funniest scenes of the film).

Because of all this stress and no break, the factory worker has a nervous breakdown. When he's released from the mental hospital he accidentally finds himself in prison for holding a flag during a communist parade.

This jail scene has one of the funniest moments as well, which is Chaplin accidentally putting cocaine into his food. When he's released he runs away with the gamin he met earlier in the film and they try to find ways to live without the factory.

The sound comes with the sound effects in the factory, and the boss is heard speaking to the workers. The last scene that has sounds is when Chaplin sings in the restaurant. He shows that moving forward isn't always a bad thing, but it needs to be done at a steady pace and in a humane way.

It makes sense considering he moved to talkies after this film. And how can you not love the final shot of the tramp and the gamin walking down the road hoping they will find a way to live in this world that they don't seem accepted in?