Modern Times (1936)

• Year: 1936
• Released: 25 Feb 1936
• Country: United States
• Adwords: 4 wins & 1 nomination
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027977/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Charlie_Chaplin_Modern_Times
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/modern-times-re-release
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: G
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Runtime: 87 min
• Writer: Charles Chaplin
• Director: Charles Chaplin
• Cast: Charles Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Henry Bergman
• Keywords: black and white, silent film, slapstick, great depression, factory,

	8.5/10
	96/100

Modern Times Storyline

The idea of the film was apparently given to Chaplin by a young reporter, who told him about the production line system in Detroit, which was turning its workers into nervous wrecks. In the film, Charlie becomes literally trapped in the machine and, in one of his finest patches of comic invention, is battered and buffeted by an automatic feeding machine introduced by his bosses to save time and money. Cured after his breakdown, he is arrested when he picks up a red flag that has fallen off the back of a lorry, and runs down the street to return it, exactly the same time as a left-wing demonstration comes round the corner. He meets ‘The Gamine’ in the back of the police van, who has also been arrested for stealing bread. From then on the theme is about two nondescripts trying to get along in modern times. “Smile, though your heart is breaking …”

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Modern Times Movie Reviews

amusing semi-socialist picture

This is an interesting historical film. When it came out in 1936, the Depression was at its height and unemployment was rampant. Because of this, Socialism, Communism and unions were all on the rise. Considering how poor everyone was, these seemed like pretty attractive alternatives. This film was actually a radical political/social message wrapped up in comedy set in the very near future–if it had been presented as a drama, there’s a good chance Hollywood would not have made the film. It’s about the dehumanization of the worker and this movie as well as Chaplin’s political leanings would later come back to haunt him during the Red Scare.

But, back to the movie. This film is essentially a series of vignettes all strung together with a schmaltzy plot. It’s a shame really, as all the vignettes are good but the plot that connects them is by far the weakest part of the film–partly because Paulette Goddard was NOT a teenager (she was just way too old to play the part) and partly because the moments between her and Chaplin tended to be the slowest and most saccharine in the film. Now I am not saying it’s a bad film–far from it. It’s just that this element is not the best aspect of the film. Chaplin’s timing and athleticism is actually the star of the movie. The film is incredible to watch as he roller skates, glides through AMAZING looking machinery and almost dances through the film. It’s a wonderful film technically and fun to watch.

PPS–only a few weeks after I first wrote this review, I have seen about 8 more Chaplin movies. After each one, my appreciation for his talents increased. In hindsight, I think a score of 9 is more in order. While it’s true I’m not much for pathos, I must acknowledge his amazing talents.

Hilarious and original with a great serious message and a poignant love story

As I love Charlie Chaplin, I desperately wanted to see this film, and I am glad I did. It may well have a scathing and critical view of an impersonal society, but that does not stop it from being a wonderful film. What I love most about Modern Times is that it is both hilarious and original, and decides to bring a serious message in and a great one it is too.

Modern Times is great visually, the cinematography and editing are both excellent and I loved the machines too as well as the stunning ending shot. The sound is also astonishing, as is the direction. Modern Times isn’t completely silent, as it does use some rather nonsensical dialogue, which is used very effectively in mocking the characters. The comedy is very well-handled, we laugh at the Tramp’s antics and their consequences, but not only we sympathise with the Tramp but there is also a very poignant love story. And I love the music, actually mainly because of the poignant yet hopeful Smile it is my favourite soundtrack in a Charlie Chaplin movie. The performances are great, Paulette Goddard is wonderful to watch but once again it is Chaplin with his faultless comedic timing and physical humour that captivates most.

Overall, wonderful, another one of Chaplin’s best. 10/10 Bethany Cox

The last triumph of silence

Modern Times while a wonderful film also forever stamped Charlie Chaplin as the Philip K. Wrigley of film artists. As all baseball historians know Phil Wrigley was the last of club owners to put lights in his ballpark and the Chicago Cubs did not have lights on Wrigley Field and play night games until after his death. So to Chaplin was the last silent screen artist and Modern Times was his triumph in that art form. People actually did see it in 1936 and this was now an audience that was used to dialog from the mouths of movie performers.

Modern Times has Chaplin and his little tramp character go after the effects of industrialization and how factory work robs the soul of its individuality and sense of accomplishment. The smarter bosses recognized this and provided workers with incentives and activities that ameliorated this feeling. Too many were like Chaplin’s bosses who only thought of increased production.

One of the great moments in the film comes when the manager selects Charlie as a test guinea pig for a feeding machine feeling that too much production time was lost while employees had their lunch. Charlie in that machine being force fed was hysterical. The gag was so good that Crosby and Hope used it for a double effect in The Road To Hong Kong.

After losing many jobs and spending time in jail when he’s picked up for union organizing, Charlie among other things gets a job as a singing waiter. Here Chaplin treads ever so gently into dialog when after losing the lyrics he sings a gibberish type ballad, similar to the Klopstokian language in Million Dollar Legs. Another treasured moment from Modern Times.

Modern Times also introduced Paulette Goddard to the big screen and she and Chaplin were involved and got married. In his memoirs Chaplin ironically recounted that while she got many offers after the film was over he because he still would not consider a sound film just stayed at home until 1940 and The Great Dictator.

He also said that costuming was difficult. It’s easy enough to make a good looking girl enhance her beauty with the best of fashion. But Paulette Goddard who played a poor waif in the film had to look beautiful in rags. Chaplin recounts he spent a lot of time trying to get the right effect for Goddard.

Among the many of Charlie’s talents was that of composer. His famous ballad Smiles is heard throughout the film at poignant moments. Naturally only as an instrumental. I commend Nat King Cole’s recording of the song.

Speaking of poignant moments the uncertain future that Charlie and Paulette have at the end of Modern Times cannot be described. Charlie the tramp and Paulette the waif just looking for a spot on earth where they can be themselves. Isn’t that something we all want.

Though it has little spoken words and none from its leads Modern Times lived up to its billing in that it came out at a time when organized labor was given the right to finally organize and it was struggling to assert that right during the New Deal. A lot of the lessons of Modern Times on that subject need to be revisited. And often.