"This is the story of the period between two world wars--an interim during which insanity cut loose, liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat." With this pithy opening title, Charles Chaplin begins his first all-talking feature film, The Great Dictator. During World War I, a Jewish barber (Chaplin) in the army of Tomania saves the life of high-ranking officer Schultz (Reginald Gardiner). While Schultz survives the conflict unscathed, the barber is stricken with amnesia and bundled off to a hospital. ...
Read More
"This is the story of the period between two world wars--an interim during which insanity cut loose, liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat." With this pithy opening title, Charles Chaplin begins his first all-talking feature film, The Great Dictator. During World War I, a Jewish barber (Chaplin) in the army of Tomania saves the life of high-ranking officer Schultz (Reginald Gardiner). While Schultz survives the conflict unscathed, the barber is stricken with amnesia and bundled off to a hospital. Twenty years pass: Tomania has been taken over by dictator Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin again) and his stooges Garbitsch (Henry Daniell) and Herring (Billy Gilbert). Hynkel despises all Jews and regularly wreaks havoc on the Tomanian Jewish ghetto, where feisty Hannah (Paulette Goddard) lives. Meanwhile, the little barber escapes from the hospital and instinctively heads back to his cobweb-laden ghetto barber shop. Unaware of Hynkel's policy towards Jews (in fact, he's unaware of Hynkel), the barber gets into a slapstick confrontation with a gang of Aryan storm troopers. He is rescued by his old friend Schultz, now one of Hynkel's most loyal officers. Thanks to Schultz's protection, the ghetto receives a brief respite from Hynkel's persecution. The barber sets up shop again, developing a warm platonic relationship with the lovely Hannah. But things take a sorry turn when Hynkel, angered that a Jewish banker has refused to finance his impending war with Austerlitz, begins bearing down again on the Ghetto. Near the end of the film, when the dictator is expected to make another one of his hate-filled, war-mongering speeches, the barber steps up to the microphones...and Charles Chaplin drops character and becomes "himself," delivering an impassioned plea for peace, tolerance, and humanity. Hal Erickson, Rovi
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Charles Chaplin, Jack Oakie, Reginald Gardiner, Henry Daniell, Billy Gilbert. New. 1940 Run time: 125. Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Delivery Confirmation included for all orders in the US.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Billy Gilbert, Henry Daniell, Reginald Gardiner, Jack Oakie, Charles Chaplin. New. 1940 Run time: 125. Buy with confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Delivery Confirmation included for all orders in the US.
You have to take this movie as a product of the times; it's not that it hasn't aged well; it's still funny and charming by turns, but if you come into this looking for more than a metaphor for 1930s Germany, you will be let down.
![The Great Dictator (the Criterion Collection) [Blu-Ray]](https://www4.alibris-static.com/cover/v14096kwdqt_t.jpg)
![The Great Dictator [Criterion Collection]](https://www4.alibris-static.com/the-great-dictator-criterion-collection/cover/v14097nny61.jpg)
![The Great Dictator [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]](https://www3.alibris-static.com/the-great-dictator-criterion-collection-blu-ray/cover/v14096kwdqt.jpg)
![The Great Dictator [2 Discs]](https://www4.alibris-static.com/the-great-dictator-2-discs/cover/t32267ujh7e.jpg)
