Review of Modern Times (1936) by Ken R — 05 Mar 2010

Leaps into my top ten! Chaplin continued to defy the Hollywood trends by not only releasing a (near) silent film half a decade after sound hit, but by making his entire next film about adapting to new and dehumanizing technologies. By calling this silent film 'Modern Times' and having the only dialogue come through machines, Chaplin calls out the Hollywood machinery and proves that for a film to be a real success relies not on technology but on craft and heart and creativity!

But all the deep messages of the film wouldn't mean anything if the movie wasn't so hilarious! Many classic gags, from Chaplin trying to keep up with the fast assembly line, where each sneeze or pause sends everyone scrambling to catch up again, to the closing gibberish song that first put sound into the mouth of The Little Tramp.

What an inspired move that song is. The setup has Chaplin getting hired as a waiter with his costar, the lovely Paulette Goddard, promising that he can sing for the show. Everybody would have wondered as Chaplin pantomimed on screen, "Can the silent film star sing?" Well, Chaplin plays with expectations brilliantly by having the Tramp lose his lyrics sheet and have to make up the song as he goes along. His singing in gibberish is not only entertaining, but pokes fun at musical numbers and talkies in general!

The highlights are many and justly famous. An essential masterwork and my new personal favorite Chaplin.