The Great Dictator

Rating: 7/10 (21 July 2010)

Sir Charlie Chaplin made a long career out of silent comedy films, and there was question as to whether he could go into sound pictures, and this his first proved he could. Basically it is the last days of the First World War, and military pilot Schultz (Reginald Gardiner) has his life saved by a clumsy soldier (Chaplin, also directing), who crashing the plane loses his memory, and goes back to his job as a Jewish Barber. In Tomania meanwhile, dictator Adenoid Hynkel (also Chaplin), who unintentionally looks very similar to the barber, is gripping the country. He is discriminating the Jewish people, but the barber's territory is untouched when Schultz recognises the man who saved him, and Hynkel needs someone to take the blame for when his plans go downhill. Schultz is arrested for being a friend to the Jews, where they are all placed into Concentration Camps, and Hynkel's next plan is to march his army into Osterlich to show up Napaloni - Dictator of Bacteria (Oscar nominated Jack Oakie). Schultz and the also captured barber manage to escape the camp in disguises, and when Hynkel is mixed up for the barber while fishing, the barber, posing as Hynkel, gets his once in a lifetime chance to end the tyranny with all of Osterlich and Tomania listening. Also starring Henry Daniell as Garbitsch, Billy Gilbert as Herring, Grace Hayle as Madame Napaloni and Carter DeHaven as Bacterian Ambassador. The best moments of the film for me are Hynkel's hand being raised to silence to crowd immediately, and of course the ballet like dancing with the balloon globe of the world, bouncing on his hands and bum. The critics are entitled to their opinion, but I personally don't think it's quite worthy of five stars, but from what I id laugh at, it is certainly a good first sound picture from Chaplin, and an amusing wartime satire comedy. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Music for Meredith Willson and Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Chaplin. Sir Charlie Chaplin was number 50 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, he was number 24 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, he was number 10 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men, he was number 38 on The World's Greatest Actor, and he was number 67 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, the film was number 70 on The Ultimate Film, and it was number 37 on 100 Years, 100 Laughs. Very good!