The Great Dictator (Criterion)

The Great Dictator

Studio: Criterion

Jul 22, 2011 Web Exclusive By Laura Studarus

Regarding his father, Charles Chaplin, Jr. once wrote the following: “Their destinies were poles apart. One was to make millions weep, while the other was to set the whole world laughing. Dad could never think of Hitler without a shudder, half of horror, half of fascination. ‘Just think,’ he would say uneasily, ‘he’s the madman, I’m the comic. But it could have been the other way around.’”

In 1940, Charlie Chaplin would explore a guise of the madman in his first talking picture, The Great Dictator. The celebrated silent director/actor’s appeal immediately translated to talkies, and the film became Chaplin’s most popular venture to date. Exploring both poles of his persona, Chaplin plays two characters with equal aplomb: a romantic, unnamed Jewish Barber, and evil dictator Hynkel—a guise so thin he might as well have used Hitler’s real name.

Ostensibly a comedy, 71 years later, the jokes hold up beautifully. One could almost imagine the material ripe for remake. (Then again, let’s not give Hollywood any ideas.) From the broad chuckles (a passed-out pilot waking up mid-flight with no clue which way is up, Hynkel plotting world domination whist dancing with a blow-up globe), to the subtle (fake German translations, Hynkel giving long-winded dictations to a barely typing secretary), the laughs keep coming. However, the funny bits are given added poignancy but the politically-charged, World War Two landscape—a fact driven home by Chaplin’s closing speech: an outright condemnation of war crimes and an appeal to basic kindness towards mankind.

The Criterion version is another strong release from the outstanding distribution company. It’s more than just a collector’s item for über fans and film buffs (although the enclosed essay “The Joker and the Madman” by Michael Wood is sure to please the scholarly crowd). Extras include fascinating production footage (in color!), a documentary detailing the lives of Hitler and Chaplin (Chaplin was presumed Jewish by the Nazis), and scenes from two previous short films. A must own for any Chaplin fans. (www.criterion.com)

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