Review of Modern Times (1936) by Donovan D — 26 Mar 2008

Chaplin's Depression Era classic. Having viewed my fair share of early 20th century comedies, it has become quite clear to me how far ahead of the pack Chaplin was, and Modern Times is right near the top of his impressive oeuvre.

Modern Times is above all a collection of marvelous comic ideas executed perfectly by an amazingly gifted performer. The mental breakdown scene is one of the most clever satires of industrialization I can think of, and the circumstances of the Tramp's arrest for leading a communist rally had me laughing harder than just about anything from Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers.

Throw in a nonsense singalong, blindfolded rollerskating, the wonderful theme song 'Smile' and even a cocaine joke, and you've got a comic masterpiece that is so fresh and vital it puts most contemporary comedies to shame.