Review of The Great Dictator (1940) by Mark W — 05 Feb 2011

First of all, there are many reasons you should see this film that don't earn stars. It may not be Chaplin's finest movie but it is probably his finest hour.

This was the first film in which Chaplin actually talked, and most of the best sequences are actually done in silent mode. The sequence with the globe is justly famous. And that's the nub of it. This movie for me is a collection of great sequences joined by stuff I could have done without. I did, however find myself laughing in many places, often at things I didn't want to laugh about. It's a great movie, but not quite as great as "City Lights" and "Modern Times.".