Great Dictator

Rating: 7/10 (28 March 2010)

Having previously seen this film only once and really enjoying it. I was very pleased at the opportunity of a second viewing. I was however disappointed and the film was not as good as I remember it being. It however is still a classic and good film.
I think that Charlie Chaplin was possibly the greatest slapstick comedian of all time. In some of his earlier pictures this is displayed more effectively than in The Great Dictator. The Gold Rush springs to mind, and Chaplin should perhaps be viewed in this picture if you want to see him at his absolute best.
That's not to say there are not sublime moments in Great Dictator, the classic scene with the giant beach ball of the world being paticualy brilliant. I also really enjoy the opening sequence in the first world war. It is perhaps the finest part of the film, with a paticualy good scene being the flight in the aeroplane.
I also think the satire and the obvious rubbishing of Nazi Germany are brilliant. It really shows how the Nazis were a ridiculous group of individuals. The fact that Hitler saw the film twice, is testament to Chaplins brilliance and magnetism on screen.
You can tell that it is Chaplins first talkie. As he is clearly not totally comfortable with the concept of a film of this kind. Some of the strongest scenes are those which remain silent. Chaplins strengths were never in verbal comedy and it is unfortunate in some respects that the spirit of the times forced him to adopt it.
Still it is a very good and very well made film. As I have said, not his greatest picture, but then perhaps his most important and influential. I think without it we certainly wouldn't have a lot of the satire which is around today. It is definitely a benchmark and the starting point of modern satire on the big screen
I was originally going to score this an 8. However I think a 7 is more appropriate for what is a great, but somewhat flawed film.
7/10