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Charlie Chaplin's stand against fascism marries wonderful comedy with a heartfelt plea for tolerance - and it still makes us laugh, says James Oliver.

You could accuse Charlie Chaplin of many things but never cowardice. Back in the 1930s, while the Great Powers were appeasing Hitler and his American hosts were committed to isolation, the most popular man in the world – as Chaplin most assuredly was – decided to make The Great Dictator, a film standing against fascism. It would (but of course!) be a comedy.

Chaplin's film charts the twin lives of Adenoid Hynkel, (demented dictator of 'Tomania' and devoted anti-Semite) and his exact double, a lowly Jewish barber. As so often in Chaplin's films, fate intervenes and brings the two together.

The Great Dictator was Chaplin's first (proper) talkie. It doesn't quite match the heights of his silent period but there's a lot here to love, including Hynkel's bluster, the famous globe – balloon dance and the beautiful closing speech.

70 years on, Chaplin's achievement is – happily – less transgressive than it was. Time has been kind to the film, however: its bold plea for tolerance is still relevant. Most importantly of all, it still makes us laugh.

 

James Oliver on 29th March 2010
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