I was watching The Great Dictator last night and was moved (again) by this lovely speech.
(Update 1/8/2012) For those who may not know, here is a synopsis of the movie provided by the Criterion Collection website:
SYNOPSIS: In his controversial masterpiece The Great Dictator, Charlie Chaplin offers both a cutting caricature of Adolf Hitler and a sly tweaking of his own comic persona. Chaplin, in his first pure talkie, brings his sublime physicality to two roles: the cruel yet clownish “Tomainian” dictator and the kindly Jewish barber who is mistaken for him. Featuring Jack Oakie and Paulette Goddard in stellar supporting turns, The Great Dictator, boldly going after the fascist leader before the U.S.’s official entry into World War II, is an audacious amalgam of politics and slapstick that culminates in Chaplin’s famously impassioned speech.
Enjoy!
Jack Deth says
August 5, 2011 at 11:03 amHi, iluv and company:
Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’ is one of the great comedic Anti-War films. The other being Kubrick’s ‘Dr. Strangelove…’. The vast difference between the two films is that Chaplin uses subtlety where Kubrick wields a sledge hammer.
Chaplin’s closing speech wraps up his classic magnificently in explaining mankind and its evil twin. War.
iluvcinema says
August 6, 2011 at 8:39 amagreed Jack with Chaplin, you really have to watch and listen.
As always, great insight!
Paolo says
August 6, 2011 at 2:30 pmI actually know a professor who said that this is the moment when he stopped being funny, and there’s a part of me that agrees with that. What do I do? :'(
iluvcinema says
August 6, 2011 at 4:50 pmInteresting point @Paolo. A brief glance at his biography does support that theory.