Fresh
The first full-blown talkie from the biggest star of the silent era, complete with a message that Chaplin couldn't have sent more loudly or clearly.
William Goss, Film.com
The Great Dictator
Once again - the whole world laughs!
1940 · 2h 5m · G
Comedy, War
Directed by
Charlie Chaplin
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The Great Dictator
Overview
Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.
Director and cast
- Charlie Chaplin Director
- Charlie Chaplin as Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania / A Jewish Barber
- Paulette Goddard as Hannah
- Jack Oakie as Benzino Napaloni, Dictator of Bacteria
- Reginald Gardiner as Commander Schultz
- Henry Daniell as Garbitsch
- Billy Gilbert as Field Marshal Herring
- Grace Hayle as Madame Napaloni
- Carter DeHaven as Spook
- Maurice Moscovitch as Mr. Jaeckel
- Emma Dunn as Mrs. Jaeckel
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
92%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Chaplin is at his most profound in suggesting that there is much of the Tramp in the Dictator, and much of the Dictator in the Tramp.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh
Like all major Chaplin works, Dictator was a cheaply, but methodically, made film, a cardboard act of humanist defiance, and, thanks to its purity of purpose, the cheesier the jokes get, the harder they land.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Fresh
It's when he is playing the dictator that the comedian's voice raises the value of the comedy content of the picture to great heights.
Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh
It is a funny film, which we expect from Chaplin, and a brave one.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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