The Great Dictator poster

1940·125 min·Released

The Great Dictator

“Once again - the whole world laughs!”

Comedy
War

Dictator Adenoid Hynkel tries to expand his empire while a poor Jewish barber tries to avoid persecution from Hynkel's regime.

8.3(3,733 votes)

Popularity9

Videos

Original Trailer

Cast & Crew

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin

Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania / A Jewish Barber

Paulette Goddard

Paulette Goddard

Hannah

Jack Oakie

Jack Oakie

Benzino Napaloni, Dictator of Bacteria

Reginald Gardiner

Reginald Gardiner

Commander Schultz

Henry Daniell

Henry Daniell

Garbitsch

Billy Gilbert

Billy Gilbert

Field Marshal Herring

Grace Hayle

Grace Hayle

Madame Napaloni

Carter DeHaven

Carter DeHaven

Spook

Maurice Moscovitch

Maurice Moscovitch

Mr. Jaeckel

Emma Dunn

Emma Dunn

Mrs. Jaeckel

Bernard Gorcey

Bernard Gorcey

Mr. Mann

Paul Weigel

Paul Weigel

Mr. Agar

wizzardss

Written on 2/18/2021

In September 1939, six days after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, Charlie Chaplin began filming his next feature. Drawing on the public perception of the similarities between himself and Adolf Hitler - not just his toothbrush moustache but also their upbringings - Chaplin sought to directly parody and attack the German führer and fascism. In _The Great Dictator_, Adenoid Hynkel (Chaplin) rules Tomania and sets about his conquest of the world. In doing so, he persecutes Jewish people, including a former veteran of World War I who is now a barber (also Chaplin). Unsurprisingly, the film was a hit on release, resonating well with the anti-Nazi sentiment in both American and British public. Chaplin understood that delivering his political message was so important that he forewent his usual desire for a silent film in order to get his message across. Sound is used to great effect in _The Great Dictator_. By studying many of Hitler's speeches, Chaplin was able to create a ludicrous, yet believable, gibberish parody of the Nazi leader's oratory style. Of course, the physical comedy remains, typically reserved for the barber (who may or may not be Chaplin's silent hero, The Tramp). This combination of physical comedy and irreverent one liners together makes the film feel like a very early Carry On. While _The Great Dictator_ remains arguably Chaplin's best "talkie", it often feels like it is the end of Chaplin's era of classical pantomime. People being hit on the head with a saucepan comes across as a cheap laugh and it is often the verbal jokes that are the cleverest. Overall the comedy has not aged well. But _The Great Dictator_ was never designed for longevity. It was perfect propaganda for the Allies, released at a perfect point in the War. For that reason, The Great Dictator can only be judged in the context of its release.

userloser

Written on 5/20/2026

Forever great, forever relevant as dictators and dictator-wannabes do their best to deprive the humans of their humanity.

Media

Original Trailer

Original Trailer

Charlie Chaplin - Final Speech from The Great Dictator

Charlie Chaplin - Final Speech from The Great Dictator

Three Reasons: The Great Dictator

Three Reasons: The Great Dictator

THE GREAT DICTATOR Trailer (1940) - The Criterion Collection

THE GREAT DICTATOR Trailer (1940) - The Criterion Collection