Reviewing Old Movies

 

by Laura Lai/ Review

Movie title: ‘The Great Dictator’ (1940)

Main actors: Paulette Goddard (as Hannah) and Charlie Chaplin

Written and Produced by Charlie Chaplin

In reviewing old movies I am making a temporary leap from 1935 to 1940 because new academic circumstances required that I mention favorite speakers and speeches. After having mentioned the historical ones, I thought to be even more original and remind Charlie Chaplin’s speech in the movie ‘The Great Dictator’ (1940).

In 1940, Charlie Chaplin wrote and produced his first sound movie – a political satire. ‘The Great Dictator’ is a satire of the nazi regime. The movie starts with the end of WWI and its plot takes place in a country called Tomainia. It is followed by the uncertain interwar period: economic depression, lots riots, and a new political party in power in Tomainia. Charlie Chaplin plays the role of a Jewish barber suffering of amnesia after WWI, as well as the role of the nazi dictator.

            The humor of this satire derives from the new circumstances the Jewish barber suffering of amnesia is dealing with when he escaped from hospital and wants to work in his barbershop in a political context in which Jewish properties were closed by the new government. Chaplin satirizes nazi’s passion for war machines, as well as the long speeches of the dictator. Lots of sequences from this movie still put a smile on our faces. But the most memorable of all is the ‘Dictator’s Speech’:

‘I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible. Jew - Gentile - Black Man, White. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness. Not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. And this world has room for everyone, and the good Earth is rich can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed…’

It was very brave of Charlie Chaplin to publicly satirize the German dictator and his political regime. He was one of the few public figures to make prove of such courage face to a conquering army and an expending criminal regime. Let us just remember that in 1940, following a defeat in France, the British public opinion was convinced that the island will be occupied by the nazis. Winston Churchill, British Prime-Minister at that time, hold his ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ memorable speech to encourage and to lead the nation to victory.