The Great Dictator

1940 film directed by Charlie Chaplin

AI overview

"The Great Dictator" is a 1940 film directed by Charlie Chaplin that satirizes fascism and totalitarianism during World War II. It matters as a significant work of political cinema that used comedy to critique dangerous ideologies at a critical historical moment.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Film · TMDB

8.3

Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.

Released: 1940-10-15125 minDir: Charlie ChaplinComedy, WarBudget: $2.0MBox office: $11.0M

▶ Watch trailerStream on: fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, IndieFlix, HBO Max, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel

Cast

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

Themes

Article

The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. Having been the only major Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, Chaplin made this his first true sound film.

Chaplin's film advanced a stirring condemnation of the German and Italian dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, as well as fascism, antisemitism, and Nazism. At the time of its first release, the United States was still at peace with Nazi Germany and neutral during what were the early days of World War II. Chaplin plays both leading roles: a ruthless fascist dictator and a persecuted Jewish barber.