The great dictator [videorecording] / Charles Chaplin Film Corporation ; written & directed by Charles Chaplin.
Material type:
FilmLanguage: English Original language: English Subtitle language: English Series: Criterion collection (DVD videodiscs) ; 565.Publication details: [Irvington, NY] : The Criterion Collection : Janus Films : Distributed by MK2, ©2011.Edition: Special edDescription: 2 videodiscs (125 min.) : sd., b&w ; 4 3/4 in.+ 1 booklet (28 p. : ill. ; 18 cm.)ISBN: - 1604654236
- 9781604654233
- Great dictator (Motion picture).
- Hitler, Adolf, 1889-1945 -- Drama
- Mussolini, Benito, 1883-1945 -- Drama
- Antisemitism -- Germany -- Drama
- Dictators -- Drama
- Dictators -- Parodies, imitations, etc
- Fascism -- Drama
- Fascism -- Parodies, imitations, etc
- Jews -- Persecutions -- Germany -- Drama
- National socialism -- Drama
- National socialism -- Parodies, imitations, etc
- Germany -- History -- 1933-1945 -- Drama
- Directors of photography, Karl Struss, Roland Totheroh ; film editor, Willard Nico ; musical direction, Meredith Willson ; original music, Charles Chaplin, Meredith Willson ; art director, J. Russell Spencer ; sound, Percy Townsend, Glenn Rominger.
- Named to the National Film Registry in 1997 by the Library of Congress ; Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Charles Chaplin), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Oakie), Best Music, Original Score (Meredith Willson), Best Picture, Best Writing, Original Screenplay (Charles Chaplin), 1940 Academy Awards (U.S.A.).
| Item type | Home library | Collection | Call number | Materials specified | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult DVD
|
Main Library | DVD | COMEDY Great di | Available | 33111008288652 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
"This is the story of the period between two world wars--an interim during which insanity cut loose, liberty took a nose dive, and humanity was kicked around somewhat." With this pithy opening title, Charles Chaplin begins his first all-talking feature film, The Great Dictator. During World War I, a Jewish barber (Chaplin) in the army of Tomania saves the life of high-ranking officer Schultz (Reginald Gardiner). While Schultz survives the conflict unscathed, the barber is stricken with amnesia and bundled off to a hospital. Twenty years pass: Tomania has been taken over by dictator Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin again) and his stooges Garbitsch (Henry Daniell) and Herring (Billy Gilbert). Hynkel despises all Jews and regularly wreaks havoc on the Tomanian Jewish ghetto, where feisty Hannah (Paulette Goddard) lives. Meanwhile, the little barber escapes from the hospital and instinctively heads back to his cobweb-laden ghetto barber shop. Unaware of Hynkel's policy towards Jews (in fact, he's unaware of Hynkel), the barber gets into a slapstick confrontation with a gang of Aryan storm troopers. He is rescued by his old friend Schultz, now one of Hynkel's most loyal officers. Thanks to Schultz's protection, the ghetto receives a brief respite from Hynkel's persecution. The barber sets up shop again, developing a warm platonic relationship with the lovely Hannah. But things take a sorry turn when Hynkel, angered that a Jewish banker has refused to finance his impending war with Austerlitz, begins bearing down again on the Ghetto. Near the end of the film, when the dictator is expected to make another one of his hate-filled, war-mongering speeches, the barber steps up to the microphones...and Charles Chaplin drops character and becomes "himself," delivering an impassioned plea for peace, tolerance, and humanity. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Originally produced as a motion picture in 1940.
Disc 1. The film -- disc 2. the supplements.
Directors of photography, Karl Struss, Roland Totheroh ; film editor, Willard Nico ; musical direction, Meredith Willson ; original music, Charles Chaplin, Meredith Willson ; art director, J. Russell Spencer ; sound, Percy Townsend, Glenn Rominger.
Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie, Reginald Gardiner, Henry Daniell, Billy Gilbert, Grace Hayle, Carter De Haven, Maurice Moscovich, Emma Dunn, Bernard Gorcey, Paul Weigel, Chester Conklin, Esther Michelson, Hank Mann, Florence Wright, Eddie Gribbon, Robert O'Davis, Eddie Dunn, Nita Pike, Peter Lynn.
In Chaplin's first talkie, he plays the duel role of dictator Adenoid Hynkel and a Jewish barber who is a dead-ringer look-alike for der Nutsie...and who thwarts his plans for world domination.
DVD; region 1, NTSC; full screen (1.33:1) presentation; Dolby digital mono.
Subtitled for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Named to the National Film Registry in 1997 by the Library of Congress ; Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Charles Chaplin), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Oakie), Best Music, Original Score (Meredith Willson), Best Picture, Best Writing, Original Screenplay (Charles Chaplin), 1940 Academy Awards (U.S.A.).