If pressed for an opinion (well, in fact, I rarely need pressing - I accept this) I would profess a preference for the silent works of Buster Keaton over those of Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin is too cloying, too mawkish. And this prejudice makes assessment of The Great Dictator difficult because what is an important piece of cinema descends into mush at its conclusion. Thus the film is condemned to be more important than it is good.
Despite this final disappointment, this is a movie with much good in it. Taking the piss out of Hitler (Chaplin's character is the pathetic Adenoid Hynkel) and out of Mussolini (an outstanding performance from Jack Oakie - Trump should be made to watch it) is manifestly a good thing and it should be granted to Chapiln that it was a brave thing to do at a time when 'America First' was a loud siren cry,
Despite its faults, 76/100.
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