The Great Dictator
Who knew The Little Tramp was the original Antifa? In Charlie Chaplin’s first “official” sound film, the comedian has a lot to say, most of it about the fascist peril then overwhelming Europe. Though the film is occasionally preachy, it’s propaganda of the most righteous form and hilarious to boot. Chaplin plays both the tramp and his evil double, Adenoid Hynkel, the “great dictator” of Tomainia. Paulette Goddard is Chaplin’s dishy, spunky girlfriend and the magnificent Jack Oakie is Benzino Napaloni, Hynkel’s partner in crime. There are many brilliant set-pieces but Hynkle’s pas de deux with an inflatable globe is on another level—when the balloon bursts, the audience still gasps.
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About John Landis
John Landis is the director of Animal House, The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf In London, Trading Places, Schlock, Kentucky Fried Movie, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos!, Into The Night, The Stupids, Innocent Blood, Coming To America, Burke & Hare, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Black Or White among many other films, commercials and extensive work in television. He was the Executive Producer and often director of HBO's celebrated series Dream On, and contributed two movies to the Masters of Horror series, Deer Woman and Family. His feature length documentaries Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project premiered on HBO, and Slasher on IFC.