The Great Dictator Movie Review 1940

Chaplin's first all-dialogue film, a searing satire on Nazism in which he has dual roles as a Jewish barber with amnesia who is mistaken for a Hitlerian dictator, Adenoid Hynkel. A classic scene involves Hynkel playing with a gigantic balloon of the world. Hitler banned the film's release to the German public due to its highly offensive portrait of him. The film also marked Chaplin's last wearing of the Little Tramp's (and Hitler's equally little) mustache.

Distribution

German Language Video Center, 7625 Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis, IN 46226-5298, Phone: (317)547-1257, Fax: (317)547-1263, Email: glve@indy.net, URL: http://www.germanvideo.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 126 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Satire & Parody, Nazis & Other Paramilitary Slugs, Amnesia, Mistaken Identity, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Charlie Chaplin

Cast

Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie, Billy Gilbert, Reginald Gardiner, Henry Daniell, Maurice (Moscovitch) Moscovich, Emma Dunn, Bernard Gorcey, Paul Weigel, Chester Conklin, Grace Hayle, Carter DeHaven

Cinematography

Roland H. Totheroh, Karl Struss

Director

Charlie Chaplin

Music

Meredith Willson

Producer

RBC Films, United Artists

Awards

Natl. Film Reg. 1997;; N.Y. Film Critics 1940: Actor (Chaplin).