Review of The Great Dictator (1940) by Kartik A — 17 Nov 2010

Lately I've been really interested in Charlie Chaplin's work. While I still hold "Gold Rush" as my favorite thus far, "The Great Dictator" is an astonishingly brave effort. Here, a beloved comedian takes potshots at one of history's most evil figures. I laughed pretty hard during the scenes in which Hinkler was ranting in "German". (Something tells me most, if not all, of it was gibberish.).

While "The Great Dictator" lost my attention a couple times throughout, I appreciate the film for what it was trying to do and I appreciate Chaplin for his bravery in taking a stand against a man whom the world often tried their best to appease or ignore. And he did it through a comedy that contained moments of poignancy throughout. It wasn't all kicks and grins. The final speech was a stunner to me.

I watched the DVD extras where they had a documentary parelleling Hitler and Chaplin (who were both born in the same week, of the same month, of the same year). I thought it was interesting that Hitler didn't ban the film outright and I found it hard to believe that he actually laughed when he did see it, as one of the members of his "inner circle" insinuated, especially towards the end. I would think megalomaniacal lunatics don't like to be laughed at.