What Is The Effect Of The Movie The Great Dictator

Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the movie “The Great Dictator”, which was released on October 15th, 1940. This is during the time when the US was still trying to appease Nazi Germany. Chaplin’s primary goal with the movie was to satirize Hitler and castigate the Nazi’s and their values. The two main characters in the movie are both played by Chaplin. One is a Jewish barber with amnesia, the other is the dictator to the ‘Nazi’ party, and they are of course identical. Adenoid Hynkel, the dictator, embodies Hitler’s beliefs of an Aryan state and world domination. This personality inevitably initiated invasions of neighboring countries, as well as condemning those who were seen as lesser men such as the Jews. At one point the barber is mistaken for the dictator and effectively replaces him.
This speech though, is more so focused towards the audience in the theatre over the one within the movie. The audience while opposed to Hitler and what he stands for still wish for a peaceful state hoping to prevent another world war. The United States stood on the edge of peace, ever so close to entering World War 2 Chaplin took this moment and utilized it fully. He does this through the use of the film “The Great Dictator”. His goal was to bemoan the world’s pessimism, greed, violence, and hate, all of which had poisoned humanities true nature as Chaplin saw it. Employing influence and passion, Chaplin is able to speak and reflect on the efforts of humanity to better or cripple every man’s life. This speech reaching millions across America, inspires and appeals to the people to fight for the quality life each and every man