IMDb > The Great Dictator (1940)
The Great Dictator
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The Great Dictator (1940) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Charles Chaplin (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Great Dictator on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 March 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The Comedy Masterpiece! more
Plot:
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 synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
Tiff 2009 Day 7: Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Micmacs
 (From ioncinema. 20 September 2009)

Imran Khan says Look Up!
 (From Bollyspice. 5 August 2009, 6:03 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
We think too much and feel too little. more (124 total)

Cast

  (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
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Dictator (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
125 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Brazil:Livre | Germany:6 (DVD rating) | South Korea:All | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Spain:18 (re-rating) (1976) | 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) | 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:
In Spain, the film was banned until dictator Francisco Franco died, in 1975. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: The machine rolling the bomb around in the beginning can be seen more
Quotes:
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
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Fopsnor (2008) more
Soundtrack:
Hungarian Dance No. 5 more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Did Chaplin make this movie as a spoof on the Holocaust?
How did Chaplin accomplish the upside down plane stunt?
more
34 out of 42 people found the following comment useful.
We think too much and feel too little., 23 January 2005
10/10
Author: muzikla from United States

I was surprised and impressed to find out this movie was released in 1940, before the United States entered World War II. On the surface, satirizing something as solemn and horrible as Nazi Germany could be misconstrued as rash. But Chaplin's brilliance isn't limited to making a joke out of everything. In fact, the seriousness of his message wouldn't have been nearly as valid if not for the excellent use of humor in this movie along with the moments of stark drama blended in. Drama alone wouldn't have had the bite and resonance that this film did. Laughing at someone (Adenoid Hynkel) can be the best way to attack them, while laughing with someone (the Jewish Barber) can be the best way to love them. In the Jewish Barber's final speech, I forgot for a moment that the war he was talking about happened more than half a century ago. They are words that have meaning now, and in any time of war. For this reason I believe the film did far greater good than harm, as it still has the same profound effect today.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Great Dictator (1940)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Chaplin's worst? alexbrownson
charlie chaplin's speech at the end neongod64
What do you think happened to the Barber and Schultz? zjm
Napaloni's wife? WillBarks
A bit of irony... jogerston
chaplins first speaking role? jschwa97
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