The Great Dictator

Recently I watched Charlie Chaplin's film the "The Great Dictator". For those of you that haven't seen it definitely check it out. I have to admit that I was a little resistant to the idea of watching it at first, because I just wasn't sure if the humor of the film would hold up given how long ago it was made.

Anyway I needn't of worried because it is a very very funny film, even now. In particular the scenes with Chaplin and Jack Oakie who plays the part of a Mussolini inspired Napaloni - 'Dictator of Bacteria' are hilarious.

But more then just being a very funny film, 'The Great Dictator' was a frontal assault upon the insanity of the time as typified by the rise of Fascism. For those that believe that true art should always seek to liberate and never be complicit in the evils and injustices of the day, 'The Great Dictator' is a an inspiration and an absolute must see.

We tend to forget just how complicit the word was towards Fascism's and Hitler leading up to WW2.

Indeed with the Great Depression Fascism found fertile ground in places all over the world, not just Germany.

Chaplin met a lot of resistance to the idea of making this film from all angles (it was even banned in places like Ireland).

However with his own money he went ahead and made it anyway. I heard one interview in which they likened Chaplin as a modern day David taking on the might of the Nazi Goliath.

Interestingly it was the first film that Chaplin ever made in which he actually spoke. I think its rather poetic that such a famous silent film star chose to speak so bravely when so many around him chose to remain silent. A true artist and a remarkable film.