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The Great Dictator (1940)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
7 March 1941 (USA) moreTagline:
The Comedy Masterpiece! morePlot:
In Chaplin's satire on Nazi Germany, dictator Adenoid Hynkel has a double... a poor Jewish barber... who one day is mistaken for Hynkel. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Orange of the Week: Sacha Baron Cohen (From ioncinema. 5 April 2009)
I'm Not a Huge Charles Chaplin Fan but...
(From Rope Of Silicon. 2 February 2009, 12:41 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Great and Then Some moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Charles Chaplin | ... | Hynkel - Dictator of Tomania / A Jewish Barber | |
| Jack Oakie | ... | Napaloni - Dictator of Bacteria | |
| Reginald Gardiner | ... | Schultz | |
| Henry Daniell | ... | Garbitsch | |
| Billy Gilbert | ... | Herring | |
| Grace Hayle | ... | Madame Napaloni | |
| Carter DeHaven | ... | Bacterian Ambassador (as Carter De Haven) | |
| Paulette Goddard | ... | Hannah | |
| Maurice Moscovitch | ... | Mr. Jaeckel (as Maurice Moscovich) | |
| Emma Dunn | ... | Mrs. Jaeckel | |
| Bernard Gorcey | ... | Mr. Mann | |
| Paul Weigel | ... | Mr. Agar | |
| Chester Conklin | ... | Barber's Customer | |
| Esther Michelson | ... | Jewish Woman | |
| Hank Mann | ... | Storm Trooper Stealing Fruit |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
125 minCountry:
USAColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Certification:
Brazil:Livre | Germany:6 (DVD rating) | South Korea:All | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | UK:U (original rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Denmark:7 (2003) | Finland:K-12 | Finland:S (re-release) | France:U | Germany:(Banned) (original rating) | Ireland:(Banned) (original rating) | Ireland:PG (re-rating) | Norway:7 | Spain:(Banned) (1940-1976) | Spain:T (re-rating) (1976) | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG (re-rating) (2003) | USA:Approved (PCA #6611) (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1972) | West Germany:12 (original rating)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During filming, Charles Chaplin's relationship with Paulette Goddard began to deteriorate, but both tried very hard to save it. In 1942, Chaplin proudly introduced her as "my wife" (a position that was always considered sketchy) at a New York engagement, but within months they were amicably divorced, and the notoriously finicky Chaplin agreed to a generous divorce settlement. In the 1960s, both Chaplin and Goddard were living in Switzerland but having made no contact, they spotted each other at a café and had lunch together. It was their last meeting. moreGoofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When the Jewish Barber first finds his shop full of webs, you can see the shadow of the camera on his left shoulder. moreQuotes:
Adenoid Hynkel: Declare war on Napaloni.Garbitsch: Napaloni?
Adenoid Hynkel: Yes, Napaloni!
[to Field Marshal Herring]
Adenoid Hynkel: Listen, you blockhead. Mobilise every division of the army and the air force. Proceed to Bacteria and attack at once.
Garbitsch: But war will be the end of us.
Adenoid Hynkel: Do as I tell you.
Garbitsch: Madness.
Adenoid Hynkel: Shut up!
Garbitsch: Very well. Would you sign this?
[...]
more
Soundtrack:
String Quintet in E, Op. 13 No. 5: Minuet moreFAQ
Which people in real life are the characters supposed to represent?What does "Aut Caesar aut nullus!" mean?
How did Chaplin accomplish the upside down plane stunt?
more
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I agree that the final speech is powerful, and stirring. It made my heart hurt (in a good way ;-) But I also have to say that the comedy is first-rate. When the Charlie and the pilot are unknowingly upside down and chatting away...when the pilot is serenely reminiscing about his girlfriend back home even as the downed plane plows right into the ground...when Hynkel delivers this vitriolic diatribe about 'the Juden' and the blandly impassive translator says, 'the Phooey has just made reference to the Jewish people' and 'the Phooey's heart is full of love to all mankind,' ...when Hynkel strips his hapless henchman of all his beautiful medals, spitting and fussing a mile a minute...I could go on and on! I think no one else on earth could play Hynkel as hilariously as Chaplin, but it might be fun to imagine modern comedians trying. ;-)