Modern Times (1936)

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writer:

Charles Chaplin (written by)

Release Date:

25 February 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

He stands alone as the greatest entertainer of modern times! No one on earth can make you laugh as heartily or touch your heart as deeply...the whole world laughs, cries and thrills to his priceless genius!

Plot:

The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.

Plot Keywords:

Machine | Jail | Invention | Police | Tramp

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Charles Chaplin	...	A Factory Worker (as Charlie Chaplin)
Paulette Goddard	...	A Gamin
Henry Bergman	...	Cafe Proprietor
Tiny Sandford	...	Big Bill (as Stanley Sandford)
Chester Conklin	...	Mechanic
Hank Mann	...	Burglar
Stanley Blystone	...	Gamin's Father
Al Ernest Garcia	...	President of the Electro Steel Corp. (as Allan Garcia)
Richard Alexander	...	Prison Cellmate (as Dick Alexander)
Cecil Reynolds	...	Minister
Mira McKinney	...	Minister's Wife (as Myra McKinney)
Murdock MacQuarrie	...	J. Widdecombe Billows (as Murdoch McQuarrie)
Wilfred Lucas	...	Juvenile Officer
Edward LeSaint	...	Sheriff Couler (as Ed Le Sainte)
Fred Malatesta	...	Cafe Head Waiter
Sammy Stein	...	Turbine Operator (as Sam Stein)
Juana Sutton	...	Woman with Buttoned Bosom
Ted Oliver	...	Billows' Assistant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Norman Ainsley	...	Billows' Silent Assistant (uncredited)
Bobby Barber	...	Worker (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin	...	Assembly Line Worker Next to Big Bill (uncredited)
Gloria DeHaven	...	Gamin's Sister (uncredited)
Gloria Delson	...	Gamin's Sister (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Shipbuilder (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Worker (uncredited)
Pat Harmon	...	Paddywagon Policeman (uncredited)
Lloyd Ingraham	...	Frustrated Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Walter James	...	Assembly Line Foreman (uncredited)
Edward Kimball	...	Doctor (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Jack Low	...	Worker (uncredited)
Buddy Messinger	...	Cigar Counterman (uncredited)
Bruce Mitchell	...	Paddy Wagon Policeman (uncredited)
Frank Moran	...	Convict (uncredited)
James C. Morton	...	Assembly Line Relief Man (uncredited)
Louis Natheaux	...	Burglar (uncredited)
J.C. Nugent	...	Department Store Section Manager (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	Gypsy in Police Patrol Wagon (uncredited)
John Rand	...	Other Waiter (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Chaplin		(as Charlie Chaplin)

Writing credits
Charles Chaplin		(written by) (as Charlie Chaplin)

Produced by
Charles Chaplin	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charles Chaplin		(as Charlie Chaplin)

Cinematography by
Ira H. Morgan		(photography) (as Ira Morgan)
Roland Totheroh		(photography) (as Rollie Totheroh)

Film Editing by
Charles Chaplin		(uncredited)
Willard Nico		(uncredited)

Casting by
Al Ernest Garcia		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Charles D. Hall		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
J. Russell Spencer		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Charles D. Hall		(settings)
J. Russell Spencer		(settings) (as Russell Spencer)

Makeup Department
Elizabeth Arden	....	makeup artist: Mr. Chaplin and Miss Goddard (uncredited)

Production Management
Alfred Reeves	....	general production manager (uncredited)
Jack Wilson	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carter DeHaven	....	assistant director
Henry Bergman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Hal Atkins	....	props (uncredited)
William Bogdanoff	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Bob Depps	....	props (uncredited)
Joe Van Meter	....	purchasing agent (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bud Thackery	....	process photography (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Max M. Autrey	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Don Donaldson	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Morgan Hill	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Mark Marlatt	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Ted Minor	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Testera	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Music Department
Frank Maher	....	music recordist
Paul Neal	....	music recordist
Alfred Newman	....	conductor
Edward B. Powell	....	music arranger (as Edward Powell)
David Raksin	....	music arranger
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Girwood Averill	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Catherine Hunter	....	press representative (uncredited)
Della Steele	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Joe Van Meter	....	purchasing agent (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Charles Chaplin Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1936) (USA) (theatrical) (as United Artists Corp.)
• Dr. Hauser & Company (1936) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Tobis-Filmverleih (1936) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1936) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1936) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés S.A.)
• Classic Entertainment (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Playhouse Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS) (For CBS/Fox Video)
• Key Video (1989) (USA) (VHS) (For CBS/Fox Video)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• Manga Films (2003) (Spain) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Cosmopol-Filmverleih- und Vertriebs-K.G. (1956) (Austria) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Capitol International Video (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Park Circus (2010) (UK) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Denmark:A (2003) | Norway:7 | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | Australia:G | West Germany:6 (nf) (bw) | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Portugal:M/6 | USA:Approved (PCA #1596) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Netherlands:AL | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Charles Chaplin Productions

Trivia:

Shown as the opening film at the newly restored Silent Movie Theatre (Los Angeles), by Charles Lustman' on November 7th, 1999.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the visit of the Minister in jail, Charlie sits next to the Minister's wife and they make funny noises. The distance between them varies between shots.

Quotes:

[Listening to a phonograph record]
The Mechanical Salesman:Good morning, my friends. This record comes to you through the Sales Talk Transcription Company, Incorporated: your speaker, the Mechanical Salesman. May I take the pleasure of introducing Mr. J. Widdecombe Billows, the inventor of the Billows Feeding Machine...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980) (TV)

Soundtrack:

How Dry I Am

One of the funniest movies (silent or talkie) ever!

This movie is a must see for anyone who loves comedies. Charlie Chaplin is at his all-time best as the Tramp, and he has wonderful chemistry with Paulette Goddard's Gamin. Together, they provide an hour and a half of non-stop laughs. My favorite parts are when he is fed by a "modern" machine that goes awry, and then when Charlie goes crazy in the factory. The situations and expressions are hilarious! Please see this movie soon...you definitely will not regret it.