Review of Modern Times (1936) by Edwin P — 03 Jul 2010

Watching Chaplinâ??s body of work gives one a whole new respect for silent films. In most of his movies, he served in more than one capacity as actor, director, producer, writer or composer â?? a monumental task that clearly speaks of the manâ??s talents and gifts. Their place on the American Film Instituteâ??s Top 100 films of all time is well deserved.

In "Modern Times", the Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman. The film is hardly silent. For the first time, the audience hears Chaplinâ??s voice in a rendition of a silly song. The production line scene where he frantically tries to keep up by tightening bolts along with his jerking movements as an aftereffect from the dehumanization of man are among its many funny scenes.

There is a certain magic to Chaplinâ??s films that will never be lost with time. While they may be simple in terms of storylines and considered â??silentâ??, the messages they tell speak volumes. Pay close attention and look beyond the art of pantomime. The facial expressions, hand gestures and other forms of body language â?? collectively, they say a lot. It is for these reasons that Chaplinâ??s films will remain timeless and a legacy to film art. And to those who havenâ??t seen his films, itâ??s an odyssey worth exploring.