The Great Dictator

Charlie Chaplin’s first talkie, made over a decade after the introduction of sound, stands as a brave and controversial piece of filmmaking. Entering production in 1937, at a time when many Americans saw Hitler as an ally rather than an enemy, the film was first released in 1940, prior to the United States’ entry into the Second World War.

Followed by Charlie Chaplin – From Comedy to Politics; a discussion focusing on The Great Dictator’s political impact across Europe including its influence on French and British cinema. Panelists include Ginette Vincendeau, professor of film studies at King’s College.