The Great Dictator (1940)

The Little Tramp speaks! And, oh, what he says!

What a glorious, uplifting movie this is. A great cri de coeur against war and hatered, and in favor of tolerance and peace. That the message it presents is, by this point, somewhat of a given does nothing to diminish its importance.

You doubtless know of the plot by now. Charlie Chaplin, a man with a moustache suspiciously similar to a certain unpleasant fellow in history, plays the role of an anti-Semetic dictator named Hinkel and a poor Jewish barber. That these two look exactly the same is obvious. That the fact doesn't come in handy until the end is somewhat unexpected, but still great.

The movie avoids getting bogged down in all the obvious traps that await a film with content such as this. It doesn't become preachy until the very last couple minutes when the Little Tramp (not called that, but let's face it, he is), stands and makes a speech that most people seem to feel brings the film to a grinding halt. Not I. I really liked it and the statements therein. They were obvious, but needed to be said. That they still do need saying is a sad commentary on where we are versus where we should be.

This disc includes some amazing special features, such as behind-the-scenes color footage and the usual trailers, etc. What makes for a really nice bonus, however, is the inclusion of a documentry on the relationship between Hitler and Chaplin (born only a few days apart). It includes a lot of information on this movie as well as, stunningly, some great photos showing Hitler in a crowd in Berlin on the day war was declared back in 1914.

This movie is worth every penny you pay for it, but if you want to get it at a good price, buy The Chaplin Collection, Vol. 1 (Modern Times / The Great Dictator / The Gold Rush / Limelight), and you can get not only this movie, but three other great films as well. Not a bad deal!

This is the first Chaplin film I've seen and to this date the only one of his movies I've seen more than once. The fact that I'm now willing to buy every single one of his films on the basis of this and the other one I've seen, Modern Times (2 Disc Special Edition), speaks well of Chaplin in general and this movie in particular.

You really owe it to yourself to see this film. July 20, 2008

A work of Genius!

This is a work of the genial Chaplin at his best.
A big pleasure to watch this old movie that has lot of controversial.

Did you know that the same Adolf Hitler watched this movie 3 times and liked a lot even if it was a parody of its regime of doom?

A movie for collectors without any doubt. May 19, 2008

A Must Have Classic Comedy Film---Better than anything produced today

Possibly Charlie Chaplin's best work ever--his Hitleresque character is beyond belief, and the "Master of the World" ballet is one every comedy enthusiast should see. This film is also filled with other stars from Paulette Goddard to Reginald Gardner; it has it all and would be an asset to any body's collection. May 14, 2008

A Great Great Dictator

Really Enjoyable! Takes me back sixty years to when I First saw it. Why doesn't the description mention Jack Oakie; The pefect Il Duce? November 2, 2007

a brilliantly orchestrated dark dramedy (drama/comedy).....

I first saw THE GREAT DICTATOR when I was in grade school, around the time that SCHINDLER'S LIST was released, a far more sober look at the devestating effects of the Holocaust on countless Jews and gentiles alike, as well as the work of Oskar Schindler during that time of such unrest and profound social injustice. THE GREAT DICTATOR is a social satire, directed by and starring "The Little Tramp", himself, Mr. Charles Chaplin. I know it sounds really strange, gruesome and even inappropriate to create a film that is centered on poking fun at the evil commited by the Third Reich and the effect of Hitler, the Nazi regime and how that resulted in the death, torture, and imprisonment of droves of Jews, Gypsies, Jewish sympathizers, Gentiles and many others. I ask that you suspend your imagination and give this film a try anyway.

Charlie Chaplin plays two very opposite men. One is Adenoid Hynkel, a swarthy and short-tempered fascist dictator, based on none other than Adolf Hitler himself. The other man is a very good and courageous Jewish barber who must face the wrath that Hynkel inflicts on his ghetto. What's more, Hynkel is alligned with Benzino Napoloni (Jackie Oakie), an Italian fascist dictator (based on Mussolini). Together, they hope to completely drive out Jews and other groups they feel are standing in the way of the master race.

This film was Chaplin's first "talkie," is brilliant, thoughtful, humorous and provocative. I reccomend that you give this one a try. You won't be sorry and it will really leave you thinking hard about the state of the world when you are done watching it. August 31, 2007

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