Facts at a Glance
- “The Great Dictator” is a satire by Charlie Chaplin on Adolf Hitler and National Socialism, premiered on October 15, 1940
- The film tells the story of a Jewish barber who is mistaken for the dictator Adenoid Hynkel
- Chaplin’s passionate final speech is a stirring appeal for peace, humanity, and democracy
Charlie Chaplin’s film “The Great Dictator” is a milestone in film history and a courageous satire on Adolf Hitler and National Socialism.
The film premiered in 1940, when the Third Reich was at the height of its power, and exposed the inhumanity of the Nazis in both humorous and profound ways.
The story follows a poor Jewish barber who fought in World War I and is later mistaken for the tyrannical dictator Adenoid Hynkel. Chaplin plays both roles and uses the similarity of the characters to expose the absurdity and cruelty of Nazi rule.
The film’s origin story is remarkable: Chaplin read in an American magazine about an edict by Adolf Hitler that Chaplin films could no longer be shown in Germany because the actor looked so similar to the “Fuehrer.” Both Chaplin’s world-famous “Tramp” character and Hitler wore the characteristic small mustache. This biographical curiosity – both were born in April 1889 and grew up in impoverished circumstances – inspired Chaplin to his boldest film project.
The film is characterized by its satirical exaggeration: Hynkel, a parody of Hitler, is portrayed as a megalomaniacal, childish, and empathy-less dictator who wants to rule the world. The Jewish barber, on the other hand, is a sympathetic, modest man who fights for humanity and peace.
Chaplin’s work contains many iconic scenes, including Hynkel’s dance with the globe and the famous final speech, which is a stirring appeal to humanity. The Teutonic-tinged gibberish (“Democratzy: Shtunk. Liberty: Shtunk. Free spreken: Shtunk!”) became the trademark of the most successful Chaplin film of all time. Despite the comedy, the film conveys a serious message against fascism and war.
The production was not without risk: Chaplin faced considerable resistance from Hollywood, which was still doing business with Germany, and from conservative political circles in the USA. Only the support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt encouraged him to continue the project. The film would never have been made if Chaplin had not produced and financed it himself.
The Myth
The film trivializes the horrors of National Socialism and makes fun of the victims.
The Reality
Chaplin did not know the full extent of the concentration camps when making the film. He later apologized for the portrayal and emphasized that the film was a courageous contribution against the Nazi dictatorship.
Food for Thought
- Alternative Scenarios: What if Chaplin had not made the film and the world had not satirically exposed the Nazis so early?
- Modern Parallels: How do Chaplin’s satirical methods and messages work in today’s world? How do rulers today deal with satire about their person?
Sources & Further Reading
- Lynn, Kenneth S. *Charlie Chaplin and His Times* (1997)
- Robinson, David. *Chaplin: His Life and Art* (2001)
- Maland, Charles J. *Chaplin and American Culture: The Evolution of a Star Image* (1989)
- Wikipedia: The Great Dictator – Comprehensive film documentation
- Image credit: The Great Dictator (1940) poster – Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
