Genre: Comedy / Drama / War Director(s): Charles Chaplin Release Date: 01 January 1940 Movie rating: 8.5

Charlie Chaplin has resisted the “talkies” longer than anyone, but when he finally caved and released a “talking movie” in 1940 it was a cinematic juggernaut – “The Great Dictator”. Being Jewish himself, Chaplin was disgusted by the Hitler’s persecution of Jews and his politics in general. “The Great Dictator” was largely influenced by the Nazi propaganda films of Leni Riefenstahl, particularly “Triumph of the Will”. In essence, it serves as a parody of the film. It tells the tale of a lowly Jewish barber and an unwilling World War I hero in the made up country of Tomania with an uncanny resemblance to the dictator of Tomania, the almighty Adenoid Hynkel. Through a whole bunch of warfare shenanigans the barber will find himself first imprisoned by Hynkel’s storm troops, then later mistaken for Hynkel himself as he holds an inspired speech in front of thousands of Hynkel’s supporters in which he decries the evils of dictatorship and celebrates the values of freedom and democracy. Like in most of his pictures, Chaplin, has written, directed, produced and starred in “The Great Dictator”. Due to the specific historic moment (the world war II breaking out only a year before), the perception of the movie has been drastically different in different corners of the world – celebrated in the USA and England, and forbidden in Germany and all of its ally nations. Chaplin has picked up three academy awards nominations - best actor, best writing, and outstanding production – but did not win any of the categories. It was Chaplin’s highest grossing film, and today it is considered a cinema classic.

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