Search - The Great Dictator on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1940 DVD Release: 04/11/2000 Format: DVD - Black and White SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 5 mins Studio: Image Entertainment Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Comedy, Political Satire, Anti-War Film See Also: The Great Dictator, The Great Dictator

"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, All Movie Guide

Charles Chaplin - Adenoid Hynkel, Dictator of Tomania
Charles Chaplin - Jewish Barber
Paulette Goddard - Hannah
Jack Oakie - Benzino Napaloni
Reginald Gardiner - Schultz
Henry Daniell - Garbitsch
Billy Gilbert - Herring

One of Charles Chaplin's best efforts, The Great Dictator comes to DVD with a standard transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. Supplemental materials include a 1933 Fox MovieTone newsreel, as well as original story notes, scripts, and production records. Chaplin's fans will certainly want to look at this disc, as will anyone with an interest in classic film comedy. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide