Modern Times [1936]

This film is an outstanding achievement in showing how far films have come – but also truly great all in itself.


It’s apparent that though filmmaking was still in its early stages when Chaplin became a director – he was quite proficient at it while making Modern Times. This was a fast paced film – with lots of action and pretty quick edits. Of course since Chaplin was not only the director – but also the writer and star – he realized that his performance in the picture is the #1 – fancy camera work wasn’t a requirement – just keep the right performer in frame (that being the standard of the time anyway – it’s no surprise).


Simple technical proficiency allowed a few composite shots intertwined into the film that worked surprisingly well – and quite advanced looking for the time. The special effect shots with the gears and the feeding device – was well used – and well made – down right beautiful.


I found the film overall quite charming – and it managed to elicit a few actual laughs – which is a feat for modern comedies. Story structure is something that Chaplin seemed quite aware of – working in gags to use into the story of The Tramp and the Orphan Girl seemed to be key – as opposed to creating gags and working around them.


Chaplin’s score was for lack of a better word – brilliant. It’s not something that I can sit around listening to – but in the context of the film – it showed that he was a perfectionist.
The everyman, Chaplin, again plays The Tramp – who works in a manufacturing plant – the pressure of the work makes him snap and he is sent to an asylum. He’s released and looking for a job – and is subsequently arrested by mistake – sent to jail – where he’s quite comfortable and quite frankly does not want to leave. Once released he meets and orphan girl – who he befriends only on his path to get himself re-incarcerated – they look out for each other and he sets down the path of trying to be legit to help support the both of them.


For THE MOST important aspect of films - the purely entertainment standpoint – Modern Times is well worth watching. From historical and directing point of view – it’s most certainly worth watching as well.
If you consider that this film captures life back then – the scarcity of work in Great Depression – how difficult it was just to survive – and how it’s really not unlike what we’re experiencing in America today. The rich remain rich – well off – and without a care in the world – because they earn it off the back of the workers – that are disposable. You can make more money if you limit the wages – work them harder – and cut them when they begin to be a nuisance.


Chaplin was one of the great Hollywood liberals – looking out for the working man used his films as his platform – and did it effectively – finding comedy and hope in the depths of the tragedy. Instead of opiates for the masses with superheroes and such – a page pulled from Chaplin/Modern Times would be much better choice these days.