Review of The Great Dictator (1940) by Eric On His Fantasy Quest V — 14 Apr 2008
"The Great Dictator" is an interesting comedy just for the comedic attack over a square-mustached Fuhrer (leader) named Adolf Hitler. It tells most of the tale of Adenoid Hynkel, the leader of Tomania, and a Jewish barber living in the ghetto. Comedic moments that made me laugh abound, including how the barber fights with the Stormtroopers (the government police officers, that is). There were even World War I flashbacks as well!
Interestingly, "The Great Dictator" is the first talkie film for Charlie Chaplin while his earliest works were all silent films. His German-like speeches that Hynkel spoke sound really funny as Tomania is making fun of Nazi Germany. Surely it was an interesting fact that both Chaplin and Hitler were born in April 1889 but were born four days apart (April 16 for Chaplin; April 20 for Hitler) and both were raised in poverty before finding fame. And Napaloni? He was making of the Italian leader Mussolini. This film was hilariously not only attacking Nazism/fascism but war as well while World War II was raging over Europe.
In short, "The Great Dictator" is a very good comedy that deserves four stars for its anti-war views. What a funny film!
This review of The Great Dictator (1940) was written by Eric On His Fantasy Quest V on 14 Apr 2008.
The Great Dictator has generally received very positive reviews.
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