Paulette Goddard | 4 Star Films

Starring Charlie Chaplin with Paulette Goddard, this satire blatantly critiques Hitler and the Nazis. The film opens during WWI where a little solider (Chaplin) saves an important military man. However, as a result he lands in a hospital with amnesia. All the while the power hungry dictator of Tomania, Adenoid Hynkel (also Chaplin) is on the rise. The man with amnesia returns to his barber shop in the Jewish ghetto and there he catches the eye of a beautiful girl Hannah. However, as Jews they are not safe, and even when things start improving, quickly Hynkel puts down his iron fist. The barber and another dissident are imprisoned, Hannah is in trouble, and Hynkel is ironing out his differences with Benzino Napaloni. However, after a gutsy escape, the barber poses as Hynkel and makes an impassioned plea to the people.

I see this film as a drama full of pathos. It is important to realize that is is not trying to make light of the situation but it is in fact condemning what Hitler was doing at the time. I think that is part of the brilliance and universality of Chaplin’s films. He could balance drama and comedy so aptly, making it possible for him to tackle this controversial topic head on. Furthermore, even though this was his first true talkie he still kept one foot in the silent age in his portrayal of the barber (very similar to the Tramp), and yet he also acknowledged the very present danger of Hitler. This film has some wonderful moments, but I think the two that really stick out are the opening speech by Hynkel which blatantly derides Hitler’s mannerisms and rhetoric. Then, in a complete 360, Chaplin gives his powerful speech aimed to rally mankind. Overall, it is a stellar duel performance from Chaplin and Goddard is as radiant as ever. That mustache certainly did not hurt the film either!

5/5 Stars

Arguably the first great superstar of film, Charlie Chaplin was the man known simply as the Tramp in his silent movies. For this reason Modern Times seems like the perfect bridge between the early silent era and the age of talkies starting in the late 1920s. Chaplin had many successes earlier including The Gold Rush (1926) and City Lights (1931). However people wanted to hear talking and soon enough everyone would have to make the transition or else die out. Because of Chaplin’s popularity he was able to make one last great silent picture. From that point on however it got a lot louder in theaters.

In this film the iconic Tramp character finds himself up against modern technology and the Great Depression. The whole movie seems to be critiquing factories, the police, the economy, and even modern film by using little actual dialogue. With that being said, this is a great film which exhibits everything that made Chaplin famous. He still has that walk, that mustache, and new hilarious antics to accompany everything else. Yet again there is a love story, between a tramp and a beautiful homeless girl played by Paulette Goddard (Only in the movies). Despite all the hardships they face this resilient pair amazingly still have hope. Fittingly, in the end the two lovebirds walk off into the background, seeming to bring the end of the Chaplin era, but also leaving us with a feeling of hope for the future.

5/5 Stars