The Great Dictator (1940)

About The Great Dictator

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire comedy-drama film directed, written, produced, and starring Charlie Chaplin. It delivers a critical commentary on Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime. The story of the film revolves around a Jewish barber played by Chaplin, who suffers from amnesia after serving in the army during World War I. The story progresses when the barber gets mistaken for Hynkel, the tyrannical Dictator of Tomania (a satire on Adolf Hitler).

Making / Production

The Great Dictator was produced by United Artists and was entirely Chaplin's initiative. The film was controversial at its time for its upfront portrayal of the Nazis. Though the film was made and released in the United States before it entered World War II, it was a brave and daring political statement for Chaplin.

Actors

• Charlie Chaplin - Played dual roles: A Jewish Barber and Adenoid Hynkel. Chaplin's performance is a mix of comedy and drama, engaging the audience both humorously and emotionally.
• Paulette Goddard - Hannah, the barber’s love interest, whose strong will and spirit help her to survive amid the political chaos.
• Jack Oakie - Napaloni, the Dictator of Bacteria (a satire on Benito Mussolini), his performance adds a satirical layer to the movie's political commentary.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Great Dictator is Chaplin's first true talking picture and one of his most commercially successful films.
• Chaplin’s satirical portrayal of Hitler and Nazism made before the U.S.'s involvement in World War II was seen as political progressive at the time.
• The film ends with a six-minute speech by Chaplin (as the barber), which is a direct address to the audience conveying an anti-war, humanist message.

Awards

The Great Dictator received five Academy Award nominations - Best Picture, Best Actor (Charlie Chaplin), Best Writing (Charlie Chaplin), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Oakie), and Best Music (Meredith Willson).

Quotes

• "I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible."
• "We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity."

Music, Soundtrack

• The stirring orchestral score was composed by Chaplin's regular collaborator, Meredith Wilson.
• The soundtrack helped communicate the film's message, from comic slapstick to powerfully emotive during the climactic speech.