The Great Dictator

The Great Dictator is a film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film, first released in October 15, 1940, is a satire on fascism and in particular Adolf Hitler and Nazism.

Plot

The film begins during World War I. Chaplin, as an unnamed private in the army of the fictional nation of Tomania, valiantly attempts to rescue an officer named Schultz (Reginald Gardiner), only to lose his memory when the plane the two had taken off in crashes into a tree. Schultz escapes from the wreckage, and Chaplin spends the next 20 years in the hospital, thoroughly oblivious to the changes that are taking place in Tomania: Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin in a double role), now the ruthless dictator of Tomania, has undertaken to persecute Jews throughout the land, aided by ministers Garbitsch (Henry Daniell) and Herring (Billy Gilbert).

Related Topics:
World War I - Reginald Gardiner - Jews - Henry Daniell - Billy Gilbert

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The amnesiac soldier returns to his barbershop in the Jewish ghetto, still unaware of the political situation, and is shocked when storm troopers smash the windows of his shop. Later, he finds a friend, and ultimately a love interest, in Hannah (Paulette Goddard), a beautiful resident of the ghetto.

Related Topics:
Ghetto - Storm troopers - Paulette Goddard

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, Schultz, who has come up in the ranks in the intervening 20 years, recognizes the barber and orders the storm troopers to leave him and Hannah alone. Hynkel, in addition, has relaxed his stance on Tomanian Jewry in an attempt to woo a Jewish financier into giving him a loan. Egged on by Garbitsch, Hynkel has become obsessed with the idea of world domination. (In one famous scene, he toys with a large, inflatable globe to the tune of a theme from Wagner?s Lohengrin.) On Garbitsch?s advice, Hynkel has planned to invade the neighboring country of Osterlich and needs the loan to finance the invasion. Eventually, the financier refuses, and Hynkel reinstates his persecution of the Jews, this time to an even greater extent.

Related Topics:
Globe - Wagner - Lohengrin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Schultz voices his objection to the invasion, and Hynkel orders him placed in a concentration camp. Schultz flees to the ghetto and begins plans to overthrow the Hynkel regime. Eventually, both he and his barber friend are captured and condemned to the concentration camp.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hynkel attempts to enlist Napaloni (Jack Oakie), Diggaditchie of Bacteria, to help him in his invasion of Osterlich. After some friction (and a food fight) between the two leaders, the invasion proceeds and is successful. Hannah, who has since emigrated to Osterlich, once again finds herself living under Hynkel?s regime.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Schultz and the barber escape from the camp wearing Tomainian uniforms (featuring the double cross, analogous to the Nazi swastika). Border guards mistake the barber for Hynkel (with whom he shares a remarkable resemblance). Conversely, Hynkel, on a celebratory hunting trip, is mistaken for the barber and is arrested by his own soldiers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The barber, who has assumed Hynkel?s identity, is taken to the Tomanian capital to make a victory speech. Garbitsch, in introducing "Hynkel" to the throngs, decries free speech and other supposedly traitorous and outdated ideas. In contrast, the barber then makes a rousing speech, reverting Hynkel?s anti-Semitic policies and welcoming in a new era of democracy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hannah, despondent over the recent events, hears the barber?s speech on the radio, and is amazed when "Hynkel" addresses her directly: "Hannah, can you hear me? Wherever you are, look up! Look up, Hannah! The clouds are lifting, the sun is breaking through! We are coming out of the darkness and into the light! We are coming into a new world; a kindlier world, where men will rise above their greed, their hate, and their brutality. Look up, Hannah!" The film concludes with Hannah indeed looking up, with a renewed sense of optimism.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~