Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Great Dictator

There are so many ways to show your thankfulness to others - a word of thanks, a smile, a note, a meal, a gift, a prayer, a recommendation. To whom can you say thank you today. (The One Year Mini For Men, 26 November)

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A couple of days ago I recorded the 1940 Charlie Chaplin movie, "The Great Dictator." This was the first movie in which Charlie Chaplin spoke. He played two roles, the Jewish barber and the dictator of Tomania, Adnoid Hynkle. Paulette Goddard was the barber's girlfriend and the Italian dictator was played by an actor named Oakie (his first name slips my mind this morning). The film was shot in black and white. I thought the ending was confusing. At the end of the movie the barber, who looked a lot like the dictator, was mistaken for the dictator and he made a speech as if he was the dictator. Earlier in the film the dictator had made several speeches in what sounded like German. In the final speech the barber made his speech in English. I enjoyed the movie and found some of it quite funny. The movie has a three-star rating. I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. Maybe the dictator should have been tried for his many crimes and someone else besides the barber should have made the speech.

Mr. Dickie
2/Dec/2010 8:21

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