Review of The Great Dictator (1940) by Amanda W — 01 Dec 2012
While watching this film, I had to place myself back in time and remind myself just how audacious it must have been. Because unfortunately, it isn't very funny. Of course, Hitler deserved lampooning (and worse) and there is a deeply sad undercurrent here since we know what was actually happening with the Jews in concentration camps (but Chaplin apparently did not).
Perhaps this takes the humor out of some of the slapstick (and the WWI scenes are funnier than the WWII scenes). Or perhaps the gibberish German and Italian feel kind of racist today (as propaganda from any war does).
The final speech, where Chaplin drops the character and speaks as himself, is slightly off topic but works as a dramatic anti-war moment.
This review of The Great Dictator (1940) was written by Amanda W on 01 Dec 2012.
The Great Dictator has generally received very positive reviews.
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