"This is a story of a period between two World Wars — an interim in which insanity cut loose. Liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat."

 

Review: The Great Dictator (1940)

An Augustus Review of 10/10

To finish off my series of classic movie reviews, I’ve decided to review a movie that has changed the lives of many, and continues to be one of the greatest films in history. Written, directed and starring the one and only Charlie Chaplin, today’s 10/10 flick is no other than The Great Dictator. 

The story begins in a battle near the end of WW1. Our protagonist, the Barber (Charlie Chaplin), is deep in the trenches battling for the fictional country of Tomainia. The Barber hears a fallen pilot’s cries and darts out of the trenches, saving the fallen commander, Schultz, and barely escaping gunfire. The two climb onto Schultz’s plane and fly off. Schultz tells the Barber that he has important dispatches that could win the war for their country. Unfortunately, the plane runs out of fuel and crashes nearby. The two survive, but the Barber has amnesia. The rescuers come and Schultz gives them the dispatches only to find out the war is over; Tomainia has lost. 

Years later, the Barber is released from the hospital and isn’t aware of the current fascist regime that has taken over his country. The Barber is Jewish, and returns to his neighbourhood. The dictator of the country, Adenoid Hynkel (also played by Charlie Chaplin), has set out to prosecute all the Jews from his country. 

At the Barber’s shop in the Jewish ghetto, storm troopers paint the word “Jew” on the side of his store which the Barber strongly opposes. The troops begin to chase him but he is able to flee with the help of his neighbour, Hannah.  The Barber is almost caught by a gang of troops, but is saved by Schultz, a high-ranking officer in the regime. He realizes the Barber is not Aryan, as he had originally thought but tells his troops regardless to leave them alone. 

Dictator Hynkel becomes obsessed with the idea of ruling the world. He eases up on prosecuting Jews to gain a loan from a Jewish financer. When he refuses to give Hynkel any money to invade the surrounding countries, Hynkel intensifies the Jew hunt. Schultz, who feels extremely empathetic towards the Jews, objects the idea of hurting them and Hynkel denounces him as a democrat and a traitor. Hynkel orders to put Schultz into a concentration camp but Schultz is able to escape and flee to the Barber’s neighbourhood.  

Schultz, the Barber and Hannah along with other residents plan to overthrow Hynkel’s authoritarian government. However, a failed mission results in Schultz and the Barber getting captured and thrown into a concentration camp while Hannah is able to escape. The dictator is ready to invade the surrounding countries and become a supreme leader; the Barber and Schultz only have one more chance to save their country and the world. 

The Great Dictator, although written as a dramatic-comedy, is one of the most influential movies of its time. It was nominated for five awards, including Best Actor, Best Writing, Outstanding Production and Best Music. The movie came out right before WWII and was used by many countries, the Allies mostly, as war propaganda against the Nazis. In other countries however, the movie was banned altogether. The Great Dictator was Chaplin’s highest grossing film, earning 11 million worldwide during its time.

 - Augustus