Movie review of Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator"

“The Great Dictator” is 1940 American political satire comedy drama. Which is written, produced, scored and starring by Charlie Chaplin. Though Chaplin is known for silent films in the era of sound film this is his first true sound movie. Chaplin’s movie advanced a stirring controversial condemnation of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Fascism, Anti-Semitism and Nazis. Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber and Paulette Goddard played role oh Hannah, the neighbor or barber. (wikipedia)

Movie start with the war where soldiers are firing on each other. The barber is also soldier there and fighting with enemies and in mist of the bomb fire he mistakenly cross the border and there enemy soldier caught him. Though he became able to run away but in this funny way Chaplin made satire on man made boundaries. There is no boundary on earth, all are emerges from the ego of human being.

In this movie Chaplin picturized Hitler as Hynkel. Hynkel is dictator of Tomainia. He is very arrogant and want everyone to bow down to him and that’s why he also manipulate the classical sculptures and made them as they are hailing to him. The use of advertisement is prominent during modern era and Chaplin don’t miss to show this in his movie as he shows newspapers and radio and how they are used as promote Hynkel. Through the advertisement he tries to control people’s mind.

Chaplin very aptly shows the politics of Modern era through this movie. Hypocrisy of two dictators front of people and fights of them behind the door is very aptly picturized.  Hynkel tends to do injustice with Jews. Jews are living in ghetto and Tomainian storm troopers always harassed them unnecessary, but when it comes to take loan from one Jew, Hynkel suddenly told his soldiers to have peace with Jews. This shows that how rulers are tend to see their own benefits only. War is also such thing in which there is only one person’s ego is going to satisfy. Hynkel also wants to conquer the world. There is one scene in movie which shows Hynkel playing with the glob of world and how by playing it broke.

The politics of earning sympathy from people. By talking about fake nationalism and by showing love to the children. We can see in the movie Hynkel talking gibberish and people are hailing for him. By his speech he control people and also make them ready to accept him as dictator. At last in movie the barber and the Hynkel both get switched at that time we come to know about what soldier and the normal people want. They only want liberty and peace. That last speech of barber is very significant in the movie.

“You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!” This is the speech given by barber which shows the urge of common man.

In the end barber address Hannah, his neighbor and he also loves her and he give Hannah hope of new mindset pf people, new era of peace and liberty, new world of democracy. Movie ends with hope and optimism.

Thank you.