Genre: Comedy / War
Duration: 125 minuten
Alternative title: De Dictator
Country:
United States
Directed by: Charles Chaplin
Stars: Charles Chaplin, Jack Oakie and Paulette Goddard
IMDb score:
8,4 (261.010)
Releasedate: 15 October 1940
The Great Dictator plot
"Once again - the whole world laughs!"
A Jewish barber (Charlie Chaplin), returning from the 1914-18 war, suffers from amnesia. After spending years in the hospital, he finds his business in the ghetto again. But the country now suffers from the reign of terror of the dictator Adenoide Hynkel, who resembles the poor barber like two drops of water. The officer Schultz has had enough of the tyranny and plans an attack against Hynkel. Schultz seeks support for his plan in the ghetto and ends up with the barber.
Actors and actresses
Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania / A Jewish Barber
Benzino Napaloni, Dictator of Bacteria
Commander Schultz
Garbitsch
Field Marshal Herring
Madame Napaloni
Spook
Hannah
Mr. Jaeckel
Mrs. Jaeckel
Reviews & comments
Duke Nukem
-
- 1837 messages
- 2030 votes
I think this is the best Charlie Chaplin movie. The beginning is a bit slow with that Jewish hairdresser, but once Chaplin appears on the scene as dictator Adenoide Hynkel, the laughter is blown! Very brave of Chaplin to make such a film in the 1940s, but I suppose he was already safe in America by then (far away from Afolf Hitler).
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Very happy that I could also take a look at this classic. The great dictator deserves all the credit and I was first of all very surprised that it all looked very neat visually, revolutionary almost for the year 1940.
I have often laughed with this movie. I especially liked the first part during WWI and it was very amusing. The film felt like slapstick and it worked wonderfully. The film does not always maintain its high level. Afterwards, it is mainly the moments with Hynkel that make an impression. The opening speech is a great rhetorical parody of the real Hitler. Deliberately not translated to refer to the drivel of a sometimes crazy Hitler. Moreover, the movements and facial expressions are also quite accurate. The film is very witty. The double role of Chaplin is a nice approach. The various pseudonyms of the world leaders of the time (or how should I put it) are simply brilliant. The original approach was probably censorship related or am I wrong about this? Those crosses instead of the swastika, Tomainia and Bacteria, the delicious Benzini Napolani or Il Dikkie (haha), Herring and Harbitsch, ... Hilarious, how do you get it?!
Another fun moment laden with symbolism is when Hynkel plays with the globe, showing the ambitions and megalomania of the führer. Very beautifully and attractively presented. Chaplin's closing speech at the end is a sincere (political) appeal from Chaplin himself. It may not have been appreciated by everyone...
In short, a very pleasant viewing piece with the necessary satire and humor. Some plot holes here and there, but who cares? Rightly called a classic after 78 years!
Translated from Dutch · View original
IH88
-
- 9890 messages
- 3204 votes
This is a story of a period between two World Wars - an interim in which Insanity cut loose, Liberty took a nose dive, and Humanity was kicked around somewhat.
Masterpiece by Charles Chaplin. The Great Dictator is a satire, but also an impressive film with an important message. The fact that this film was made during World War II makes it all the more impressive, and I will not soon forget Chaplin's last speech. But The Great Dictator is also just a very funny movie, and Chaplin's many puns and physical humor never get old.
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