The Great Dictator

1940

4/4 Stars

In March of 1940 the United States was officially neutral in the struggle against fascism in Europe. Poland had already been invaded and France was months away from being crushed by Hitler's blitzkrieg. Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass, had already taken place some two years prior to this point. This marked a clear statement to the world regarding how the Nazis viewed and treated Jews. Synagogues were burned, shops destroyed, Jews rounded up, beaten, and arrested. In spite of all of these events, not only was the United States neutral, but there was a strong element in the country that supported Germany and was vehemently against going to war with the Nazis.

When Charlie Chaplin, already suspected by the right wing of being a communist, unveiled his masterpiece "The Great Dictator" the FBI launched a full-scale investigation into this activities as a "premature anti-fascist". Why? The film is overtly anti-Nazi and anti-Hitler and was released during a period when this sort of rhetoric could "dangerously slide the country toward war". Given Chaplin's mass appeal and far reach (even Hitler himself is said to have seen the film), they had reason for concern.

Watching "The Great Dictator" now, more than sixty-five years after its release, one is struck by its poignancy and foresight, it's humor and thoughtfulness. To begin, Chaplin's impersonation of Adolf Hitler as Dictator Hynkel is hilarious and spot-on. Chaplin's skills for mimicry shine here and his physical resemblance (moustache and all) bring the performance to the next level.

Chaplin's sympathy with the plight of the Jews is made overtly clear in his portrayal of the Jewish Ghetto and the constant harassment of the Jews by the Storm Troopers. Chaplin would later remark that he would never had made the film had he known the extent of the horrors that the Jews were facing in reality. Nevertheless, these scenes do drive home a fundamental truth regarding the injustice, discrimination, and hatred that the Jews suffered from in the period leading up to the ultimate horror of the "final solution".

In writing about these darker realities of history, it is important to emphasize that this film is a comedy and a funny one at that. The stupid SS march song, "We are the ary-ary-ary-aaarrrians!", Hynkel's famous dance with the globe (later aped by Dr. Evil and Mike Meyers), and the "coin in the pudding" sequence are just a few of the highlights. There are also countless little quips that are just as snappy and fast as anything in film today. One must pay attention or these will sail by.

In closing, this is not just an excellent film, but it one with an important message. In Chaplin's great speech at the end of the film, he calls unequivocally for people to rise up and fight Hitler while showing a rich and deeply humanitarian spirit. A film that still resonates today, "The Great Dictator" is not to be missed.