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Modern Times
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Synopsis
This episodic satire of the Machine Age is considered Charles Chaplin's last "silent" film, although Chaplin uses sound, vocal, and musical effects throughout. Chaplin stars as an assembly-line worker driven insane by the monotony of his job. After a long spell in an asylum, he searches for work, only to be mistakenly arrested as a Red agitator. Released after foiling a prison break, Chaplin makes the acquaintance of orphaned gamine (Paulette Goddard) and becomes her friend and protector. He takes on several new jobs for her benefit, but every job ends with a quick dismissal and yet another jail term. During one of his incarcerations, she is hired to dance at a nightclub and arranges for him to be hired there as a singing waiter. He proves an enormous success, but they are both forced to flee their jobs when the orphanage officials show up to claim the girl. Dispirited, she moans, "What's the use of trying?" But the ever-resourceful Chaplin tells her to never say die, and our last image is of Chaplin and The Gamine strolling down a California highway towards new adventures. The plotline of Modern Times is as loosely constructed as any of Chaplin's pre-1915 short subjects, permitting ample space for several of the comedian's most memorable routines: the "automated feeding machine," a nocturnal roller-skating episode, and Chaplin's double-talk song rendition in the nightclub sequence. In addition to producing, directing, writing, and starring in Modern Times, Chaplin also composed its theme song, Smile, which would later be adopted as Jerry Lewis' signature tune. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Henry Bergman Cafe Owner
Charles Chaplin Worker
Chester Conklin Mechanic
Allan Garcia President of a Steel Corporation
Paulette Goddard Gamine
Hank Mann Burglar
Louis Natheaux Burglar

Production Crew

Ira Morgan Cinematographer
Roland H. "Rollie" Totheroh Cinematographer
Alfred Newman Composer (Music Score)
Charles Chaplin Composer (Music Score)
Charles Chaplin Director
Henry Bergman First Assistant Director
Alfred Newman Musical Direction/Supervision
Charles Chaplin Producer
Charles Hall Production Designer
Russell J. Spencer Production Designer
Charles Chaplin Screenwriter
Year: 1936
Runtime: 87
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: G
Category: Feature

Genre
Comedy

Release
by United Artists

Awards
1936 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1988 - U.S. National Film Registry - Library of Congress
1998 - 100 Greatest American Movies - American Film Institute