Blu-Ray Review: Amazing Edition For Charlie Chaplin Classic ‘The Great Dictator’

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CHICAGO – Every time I’ve seen “The Great Dictator,” I’m amazed that it even exists. It is not only one of the great Charlie Chaplin’s most consistently funny films but it is a satirical masterpiece that is SO daring that it’s amazing it even got made. It is a piece of slapstick comedy about World War II and Adolf Hitler. Think about that for one minute. Now, it was made in 1940 (a year before our entry into the war), but it was still a risky move to make a piece this politically and socially conscious and try and sell it to an audience who had grown accustomed to watching Charlie Chaplin fall down.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Now, of course, we can look back at Chaplin’s career now and realize that he was ALWAYS socially and politically conscious. “City Lights,” “Modern Times,” the very character of the Tramp — his work often reflected a deep social consciousness. So it should be no surprise that he made such a complex, remarkable piece as “The Great Dictator.”

The Great Dictator was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 24, 2011
The Great Dictator was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 24, 2011
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Released in 1940, “The Great Dictator” was Chaplin’s first talkie. In it, he plays dual roles — that of the dictator of Tomainia (that was, of course, modeled after Hitler’s Germany) and a Jewish soldier who would become heavily involved in his fate. The less you know about the plot of “The Great Dictator,” the better. Just know that it is a daring, remarkable satire of power gone mad and that the cinematic world would be a better place if there were men like Chaplin working in it today, men who were willing to take risks as daring as “The Great Dictator.” Can you imagine a similarly scathing piece about current power struggles around the world? No one’s got the guts.

The Great Dictator was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 24, 2011
The Great Dictator was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 24, 2011
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

The Criterion Collection have been good friends to Charlie Chaplin for years, releasing stellar editions of “City Lights” and “Modern Times,” but “The Great Dictator” may be their most notable accomplishment yet for the legendary comedian. Not only is the HD transfer on the Blu-ray one of the best yet produced for a film this old but the special features are stellar. As for the new high-definition digital restoration, it’s simply stunning with the perfect mix of black, white, shadow, and light.

It is often the case that films in the Criterion Collection as old as “The Great Dictator” don’t have a lot of supplemental material simply because the archives aren’t that deep. Luckily, such is not the case with this release as Criterion as unearthed some amazing footage that simply must be seen by Chaplin fans, including a deleted sequence from the master’s 1919 film “Sunnyside” and another sequence from his half-brother’s 1921 film “King, Queen, Joker.” There’s an amazing documentary that parallels Chaplin’s life with Hitler’s along with a new audio commentary by Chaplin historians. Even the booklet, which contains a great NYT essay by Chaplin in defense of the controversial end of his movie, seems richer than the average Criterion release. And that
s saying something remarkable indeed.

Special Features:
o New audio commentary by Charlie Chaplin historians Dan Kamin and Hooman Mehran
o The Tramp And The Dictator (2001), Kevin Brownlow and Michael Kloft’s documentary paralleling the lives of Chaplin and Hitler, including interviews with author Ray Bradbury, director Sidney Lumet, screenwriter Budd Schulberg, and others
o Two new visual essays, one by Chaplin archivist Cecilia Cenciarelli and one by Chaplin biographer Jeffrey Vance
o Color production footage shot by Chaplin’s half-brother Sydney
o Barbershop sequence from Sydney Chaplin’s 1921 film King, Queen, Joker
o Deleted barbershop sequence from Chaplin’s 1919 film Sunnyside
o Rerelease trailer
o Booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Wood, Chaplin’s 1940 New York Times defense of his movie, a reprint from critic Jean Narboni on the film’s final speech, and Al Hirschfeld’s original press book illustration

“The Great Dictator” stars Charlie Chaplin, Jack Oakie, and Paulette Goddard. It was written and directed by Chaplin. The Criterion edition was released on May 24th, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Michael's picture

Where is the link to buy this dvd/blueray?

can you please provide a link as to where to purchase this release?

thank you in advance

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