Charlie Chaplin | Free Voice Network - A Free Thinking Society

Feb 09

Charlie Chaplin – Modern Times

Posted by: Black Sheep in 2010, Charlie Chaplin, Movies Comments: 3 »

Modern Times, is the fifth movie of the third Charlie Chaplin era, working with the United Artists. Unlike his previous films, in Modern Times there is strong Marxist element. The tramp is not presented as the typical wanderer, but as a poor worker, victim of the hard capitalist system. Charlie’s anti-establishment mutiny is more obvious in Modern Times comparing to other films he has done.

First part: As we can see in the first video of the playlist (1:12) the film opens with a scene of sheep-cattle moving along and crossfaded with a similar scene of people (workers) who go to the factory as it is time to work. He clearly points out that the capitalist system has turned the people to a cattle of workers, a mass who does nothing more than work hard and get paid as less as possible while the rich boss man (the factory owner) is happy and relaxed in his room and able to watch over every single person inside the factory via a developed camera system (a Big-Brother like figure). Nobody can do different to the boss’s orders. Therefore Chaplin is called to be used as an assayer to a new invention, a machine that helps people to eat without moving!

Rating: 6.0/6 (3 votes cast)

Jul 14

Charlie Chaplin, “the great dictator”

Posted by: Black Sheep in 2009, Charlie Chaplin, Movies Comments: 6 »

Most of us have associated Charlie Chaplin’s name with a funny character in black-and-white short silent films of the 20s, a looser, a tramp, somebody who is not only the victim of circumstances but a person who confronts the results of his own silliness. His figure is so strong that even a person who has not seen a single movie of his immediately recognizes him. A worn-out hat, a dirty jacket, a cane, and a characteristic funny way of walking. This tramp remains one of the most notable figures in the history of cinema. However, most of the people who are not familiar with the classic cinema may not know that Chaplin has released also full-length movies and that there is a strong political concept in most of his works.

Wars and other dramatic events are always the inspirational focal point for many artists. The film “The Great Dictator” was written and produced in the shadow of the third Reich and the rise of Nazism in Germany. It is one of Chaplin’s most widely-known films perhaps the most dynamic and entertaining, and his first non silent production, released in 1940, thirteen years after the introduction of sound in film. I would definitely classify it as one of the most important moments in the film history. The production began in 1937 when there were still many who believed that Nazism was a threat, while the release was shortly before America entered the Second World War. The whole movie is a strong political message wrapped up in comedy!

Rating: 6.0/6 (1 vote cast)