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The Great Dictator
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Synopsis
"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, All Movie Guide

Cast

Charles Chaplin Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania
Charles Chaplin Jewish Barber
Henry Daniell Garbitsch
Emma Dunn Mrs. Jaeckel
Reginald Gardiner Schultz
Billy Gilbert Herring
Paulette Goddard Hannah
Bernard Gorcey Mr. Mann
Grace Hayle Mme. Napaloni
Maurice Moscovich Mr. Jaeckel
Jack Oakie Benzino Napaloni
Paul Weigel Mr. Agar

Production Crew

Russell J. Spencer Art Director
Karl Struss Cinematographer
Roland H. "Rollie" Totheroh Cinematographer
Meredith Willson Composer (Music Score)
Charles Chaplin Director
Willard Nico Editor
Wheeler Dryden First Assistant Director
Meredith Willson Musical Direction/Supervision
Charles Chaplin Producer
Charles Chaplin Screenwriter
Year: 1940
Runtime: 126
Country: USA
MPAA Rating: G
Category: Feature

Genre
Comedy

Produced by
United Artists

Awards
1940 - 10 Best Films - Film Daily
1940 - 10 Best Films - New York Times
1940 - Best Picture - Academy
1940 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1940 - Best Picture - New York Film Critics Circle
1940 - Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie
1940 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1940 - 10 Best Films - Film Daily
1940 - 10 Best Films - New York Times
1997 - U.S. National Film Registry - Library of Congress