Charlie Chaplin and "The Great Dictator"

[De Lorimier]

I went to the movies today to see "The Great Dictator" by Charlie Chaplin. This masterpiece is back in theaters in Europe and Québec (English Canada too I guess). This film really is great.
It's so great that I went to the video store after to rent it and I'm watching again it right now. And to think that Chaplin was called a "damn commie" for this.

I think the movie isn't shown in the United States because of the political situation down south (or so I heard) and it's a damn shame.

This is my favorite movie and I think everyone should see it. When you realize it was done in 1940, before the USA were attacked, it just seems so great to me. (Just like Dr.Strangelove that was made in 1962) The DVD is coming out soon and I can't wait!

Charlie Chaplin is a genious! I started to rent his movies when I was 15 and never looked back. From "Modern Times" to "King of New York" and classics like "Gold Rush" or pretty much everything involving the little tramp, I admire the man's entire catalogue!

Does anyone has something to say about Charlie Chaplin and "The Great Dictator"?

 

[Greadius]

Or maybe it isn't shown in the United States because it is 63 years old, and our movies don't tend to have that kind of theatrical life span?

What political situation 'down south' are you talking about?

 

[De Lorimier]

Or maybe it isn't shown in the United States because it is 63 years old, and our movies don't tend to have that kind of theatrical life span?

Well, the movie is coming out in Europe and Canada because it is soon to be released on DVD and, like George Lucas did for "Star Wars" (episode 4,5 and 6), the promotionnal campaign starts in theater.

What political situation 'down south' are you talking about?

I read Geraldine Chaplin's (Charlie's daughter) comments in an interview and she said no one would carry (sp?) the movie in the United Staes because of the political climate. Apparently, distributors (again, sp?) are afraid that the war-like atmosphere isn't the right time for this film. I don't think it's enough for the movie not to be shown and it will probably hit some theaters once they find the support.

 

[Pongui]

:jump:

***

"Chaplin's my favorite!"

***

 

[Simon Darkshade]

My feelings on the individual are akin to those of Captain Edmund Blackadder. And him being a red with a taste for chicken certainly does not raise my opinion either.

 

[ZultanofZex]

must insist Simon be projectionist.
stop

let him never
....stop

 

[test_specimen]

Originally posted by Greadius
Or maybe it isn't shown in the United States because it is 63 years old, and our movies don't tend to have that kind of theatrical life span?

And they should not have this life span. But if a film is good, this doesn't change 63 years after its release. I have only seen "The great dictator" on tv several years ago, but it is also in cinemas in Vienna right now. Anyway, there are no good US movies right now (they only produce one every 5 years), so why not show a good old one?

 

[Darkness]

Originally posted by Greadius
Or maybe it isn't shown in the United States because it is 63 years old, and our movies don't tend to have that kind of theatrical life span?

What political situation 'down south' are you talking about?

What does it matter if the movie is 63 years old. That one is a masterpiece! Who cares how old it is, just realize it when you're watching it to get to the gist of the movie....

 

[Hitro]

It's a great movie, considering it was made in 1940.
I'm not too fond of slapstick humour, but there's fortunately more in this movie.

 

[knowltok2]

Originally posted by Darkness


What does it matter if the movie is 63 years old. That one is a masterpiece! Who cares how old it is, just realize it when you're watching it to get to the gist of the movie....

Strangely enough, theater owners make their decisions not on the percieved quality of a movie, but rather on how well it is going to put butts in seats. Say what you want about US movies and US audiences (not you Darkness, anyone), but they know what they want to pay $8 to see, and generally it is not a 63 year-old movie.

Also, don't make an assumption that the movie isn't showing anywhere. Most cities of some size have theaters that show vintage movies, and or non-mainstream films.

As for Chaplin's daughter, I have run into the same problem with my own movie. It is so politically edgy that the Man is keeping it down. No one will show it for fear of the Feds coming down on them hard. It has nothing to do with the fact that not enough people will come to see it to make most theaters any money.

 

[Darkness]

That's not what I meant Knowltok2.

I perfectly understand theaters have to make money in the US (in Holland as well) and I do understand that hollywood movies are going to make them more money than the Chaplin movie...

I merely wanted to point out you shouldn't judge the merit of a movie by it's age....

 

[Panda]

'The Great Dictator' isn't shown in Finnish cinema's either, but not because black-uniformed militias patrol the streets.

If you're lucky you might be able to see it in a film enthusiasts club meeting, but they are notorious for screening the soporific drugs produced by the dreaded Ingmar Bergman.

On a side note, wasn't Chaplin's exile to Switzerland also partially forced by rumours of child abuse?

 

[Richard III]

Originally posted by knowltok2
As for Chaplin's daughter, I have run into the same problem with my own movie. It is so politically edgy that the Man is keeping it down. No one will show it for fear of the Feds coming down on them hard. It has nothing to do with the fact that not enough people will come to see it to make most theaters any money.

 

[Greadius]

Originally posted by De Lorimier
I read Geraldine Chaplin's (Charlie's daughter) comments in an interview and she said no one would carry (sp?) the movie in the United Staes because of the political climate. Apparently, distributors (again, sp?) are afraid that the war-like atmosphere isn't the right time for this film. I don't think it's enough for the movie not to be shown and it will probably hit some theaters once they find the support.

For a silent charlie chaplin film?

First of all, I doubt anyone would go see the bloody thing. No offense, but old silent movies...
Second of all, its probably on TV all the time, as are hundreads of movies that have a more intense warlike feel.
Third, major distributers are still releasing war movies, parodies... nothing has effected the film culture except for immediately following 9/11

Seems Geraldine Chaplin is suffering from a minor case of hubris.

 

[Cimbri]

I wonder if Bush could find a link between the Great Dictator Chaplin and Al-Qrazy?
Nah, you Republicans know I’m kidding . Funny movie though.

Cimbri

 

[De Lorimier]

Greadius wrote:

For a silent charlie chaplin film?

Huh...the movie isn't silent. It's the first one in wich the "Little Tramp" character speaks. And the dictator speaks, so does Napoloni and the other characters. I suggest you see the film. Maybe then you'll understand a little bit more about what she said. It's more than a "warlike movie" as you put it.

 

[De Lorimier]

I don't really want to debate why the movie isn't shown on american theaters. I'm a fan who wanted to know if other people here like this film. Some people haven't seen the movie so here's why I love it so much:
(I just think that such a speech in 1940 was amazing. )
(no silence here )

The Great Dictator Final Speech
[Captain Schultz] Speak - it is our only hope
[The Jewish Barber] Hope -

I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business - I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that.

We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.
But we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men's souls -
has barricaded the world with hate;
has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in:
machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.
Our knowledge has made us cynical,
our cleverness hard and unkind.
We think too much and feel too little:
More than machinery we need humanity;
More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.


Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair".

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people , will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish. . .

Soldiers - don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.

Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate - only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers - don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.

In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written
"the kingdom of God is within man "
- not one man, nor a group of men - but in all men - in you, the people.
You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

Soldiers - in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

. . .

Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting - the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality.

The soul of man has been given wings - and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow - into the light of hope - into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up."

 

[Cloudyvortex]

Good stuff, I have never even heard of this movie. I will keep an eye out for it at the movie rentals.

 

[philippe]

Good luck i tried to find Dr strangelove but nobody has those old videos....

 

[test_specimen]

Only a short time ago, a Kubrick boxed set including Dr. Strangelove got published. I also happened to come across a quite new Clockwork Orange two DVD set only recently (but it was too expensive for me). So it should not be too much of a problem to buy them.

As for renting: There is a good alternative video rental called Alphaville, though I'm not sure if it exists outside Europe (I don't even know if it exists outside Vienna). They have non-Hollywood, non-English movies as well. But you can be sure that you won't find those movies at your local Blockbusters.

But while you're at a good video rental: pick up J-L Godard's latest, "Eloge de l'Amour".