Film Techniques Used In The Great Dictator

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In 1939, Charlie Chaplin was a world famous movie star who released a movie that would be very controversial, The Great Dictator. The movie was meant to ridicule Hitler, as at that time he was at the height of his power. At the end of the movie, Chaplin delivers a speech as a Jewish barber mistaken for Chaplin’s Hitler- like dictator. Chaplin uses speech rhetoric to convey Chaplin's message of hope and light. The film did very well in the theaters and was Chaplin's most successful movie. The speech in the film, The Great Dictator, used it's influential place in society with cinema to convey a message of peace, hope, and independence.
When The Great Dictator was made, the world was at war. It was 1938 when Charlie Chaplin went on a world tour and recognized the rise of nationalism and radical actions in Europe, specifically Germany. The war had just begun one Chaplin released his plans to make a movie ridiculing Hitler. Hollywood was …show more content…

He even begins his speech with “I’m sorry but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone.” By saying this, Chaplin is showing the people how he really feels and becomes relatable to the audience. Chaplin also says “Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.”He is referring to the Industrial Revolution and the innovations it brought. This makes the audience trust him because many can relate as weapons were being mass produced. Chaplin also says “I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, Black men, White.” When Chaplin says this, he is pointing out that he is not discriminating. He specifically mentions Jewish because he is trying to reassure the victims of the Holocaust that things will get better and people out there do want to help, despite what it might seem. Chaplin’s speech played at emotion, but also uses pathos to get into the mind of the

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