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Summary: Charlie Chaplins tramp charector goes through modern jobs
Review: Chaplins second best film ever(the best is the gold rush)
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Summary: These are Modern Times
Review: Charles Chaplin's amazing subtle approach to the modern society is so vibrarant through this film. The eternal song "Smile" so tragic but so optimistic, there is still road ahead, you have to just put up a smile in the face of worries, and move on. After approximately 60 years this film is still quite applicable to our present day society. Man turning into machine and we swimming amongst the sprockets of the mechanical age, is a sight worth seeing. Truly a masterpiece, in every right.
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Summary: Simply Wonderfull!
Review: Charlie Chaplin is simply stupendous in this legendary satire (Modern Times VHS ~ Charles Chaplin) which makes fun of the modern industrial and mechanized world where the machine has become more important then the individual worker. In his role as a factoryworker, i.e., Chaplin, is driven to the brinks of literal insanity by the soulless momentum of work. Chaplin also is able to execute a series of witty and sly slapstick routines around machines, including a memorable incident, e.g., in which he is entagled with an automatic feeding apparatus. Highly Recommended.
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Summary: A short man who is a factory worker finds love.
Review: Contains music and sound effects.
I didn't fully appreciate Charlie Chaplin until I became a mature adult and had learned what respectible work he had done. I once got into City Limits (1931). Chaplin was a short funny man. It wasn't until I saw him as an older gentleman in a clip on the Academy Awards program that aired April 10, 1972, when he was being honored that I realized him. It was his first trip back in America in years and he said to the audience, "you dear people", with tears in his eyes. He was so humble.
Turner Classic Movies recently ran a 24-hour marathon of Chaplin films in August 2004. He did do films that were speaking roles. He was so brilliant in A King In New York (1957). Modern Times (1936) is Chaplin at his best. The first 18 minutes with Chaplin as a factory worker is hilarious. I was shocked to see the muscled-man factory worker "Section Five" with his shirt always off here in this 1936 film.
Chaplin is a factory worker and possibly the best, but he gets no respect. Not even enough time to use the bathroom. The boss even tries a new invention on getting the employees to eat faster. Chaplin goes insane, or rather, has a nervous breakdown, and is sent to jail for disturbing and damaging the factory. Now out of jail and the factory closed down, Chaplin just walks the street. he finds a dropped flag from a truck and he picks it up. Suddenly, a stampede of angry Union Workers come from behind him. He innocently gets mixed in with the crowd and the police see the flag he is holding and he is sent to jail again. That is just the beginning of the story.
There are hundreds of funny bits in thi film, but what is disturbing to me is when the little guy mistakenly is sent to jail all over again. But when he gets out, he does find love in a woman (Paulette Goodard, who later became Chaplin's real wife).
Gloria DeHaven is one of the young orphans. She was the daughter of Chaplin's assistant director.
Last "silent" film for Charlie Chaplin. He continued in films with speaking roles until 1967.
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Summary: An absolute masterpiece
Review: Five stars isn't enough for this film which is a deserved classic, one of the great movies ever made. If you've never seen a Chaplin film, "Modern Times" is the one to sample first: it's more accessible than Charlie's silent movies and the plot, theme, acting, music and ambiance of the movie is superb in every way. It would be hard not to adore this movie, it has everything in it.
What can you say about Chaplin that hasn't already been said? He was a genius of the highest realm. He wrote, directed, composed the music and starred in "Modern Times" and his inimitable charisma surrounds the entire production. I've seen this movie 30 times and never get weary of it, there's always something new to notice or appreciate. The way Charlie moves his body is always a joy to behold. My favorite scene is towards the end of the film when the Tramp finally speaks on film, albeit in gibberish, in his famous "Nonsese Song." Note that there is no doubt Michael Jackson completely ripped off Charlie with his "moonwalk" dance, which he lefts almost entirely from Charlie's dance preceding the "Nonsense Song." Indeed, Chaplin's gifts as a compsoser are in full force here, the music is beautiful throughout.
"Modern Times" has it all: laughter, tears, pathos, as well as a social message 50 years ahead of its time. Modern industry dulls the human spirit and imprisons the soul, making workers lose their individuality and humanity. Charlie points this out in comedic ways, as well as more serious undertones.
Paulette Goddard, Charlie's third wife (we think, their marriage certificate has never surfaced), is excellent in the supporting role of the homeless gamin. Her beauty is exceptional. Even with minimal make-up anda simple hairdo, she is stunningly gorgeous. Charlie always had good taste in judging women's beauty and Paulette is no exception!
"Modern Times" is a timeless cinematic masterpiece. Cherish your initial viewing, you'll never forget its impact as you laugh, cry and reflect on the genius of Charles Chaplin. My highest recommendation.
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Summary: My Favorite Charlie Chaplin Movie!
Review: I can't help but have a big smile on my face whenever I watch Charlie Chaplin. Maybe it's because whenever I see him I think back to when I was younger, and spent several hours in front of the tv watching his movies, or maybe it's simply because, the man was funny! This movie has what I feel is one of the most heartfelt endings in movie history. As we see "the tramp" and his then wife, the very beautiful Paulette Goddard walk into the sunset. They have no idea what the future will bring for them. They have no money,and no jobs. But what they do have is their love for each other. And if all of this were not enough, Chaplin wrote, what is probably his best known song, though "Eternally" is a close second, "Smile" is playing in the background. It's a very emotional scene. And it's hard to believe that a man who made so many laugh over the period of his career was able to make just as many cry. That was the Chaplin touch. He could create some of the most funniest things ever filmmed and at the very same time could think of the most heartfelt. But it's not just the ending scene that remain memorable, no, there are many many other highpoints as well. We have Charlie actually getting caught inside one of the machines! And we have his song and dance, which actually did have sound, besides this scene and the music, there's no other sound. This was, as many know Chaplin's last silent film. This is a movie filmlovers of all ages should watch. A wonderful movie by one of the funiest people that ever lived. A real treasure for everyone to see.
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Summary: Very cute!
Review: I have to confess, I had never seen a Charlie Chaplin film before I took a chance and purchased Modern Times on DVD. Why this film, you ask? I remembered it from a biography I saw of Chaplin on television. I was instantly impressed once I inserted it into my DVD player. The more I watch this cute little movie, the funnier it becomes.The DVD is 1.33:1 (standard) and is in black and white. The picture is good enough for a 30's film. Oddly, the picture is "cropped" within a black square as if the screen were zoomed-out slightly. Chaplin wrote the score, being that this film is predominately "silent" (the characters raarely talk, although some do at times). There are title cards used intermittantly throughout as well. The music is very good, and confirms my opinion of Chaplin as a very multifaceted man of many talents. It was a risky purchase that proved to be a wise-buy. You can be sure I will buy more Chaplin films in the future! Shame on the television networks and cable for not making me (and probably many others like me) more aware of this 20th Century icon.
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Summary: it was good.
Review: i likeded this movie because he doesn't speak. you learn about the character from his moustache twinkling. and that means alot to me.
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Summary: A beautiful restoration
Review: I love old movies and own several Criterion Collection DVDs from the 1930s, but in terms of picture quality, none compare with the new Chaplin Collection restoration of "Modern Times" (1936). The restoration looks pristine, with no graininess whatsoever and only the very occasional artifact. They even have a remastered Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. My only complaints about the first disc: no audio commentary to accompany the film, and more than five minutes of warnings from FBI, Interpol, etc. in every language. I didn't sit all the way through, but my "Forward", "Next" and "Menu" buttons were disabled. I had to hit "Stop" then "Play" again to get back to the main menu. The second disc has an introduction by biographer David Robinson documentary, in which Robinson explains that Chaplin was very concerned with and educated about economics and the role of industry in causing the Great Depression. His ideas became the driving force behind "Modern Times". The documentary features a commentary by two French directors. I didn't find it particularly insightful. However, there is also footage of Chaplin (without his Tramp costume) with Gandhi and talking to a camera. Though brief, it gave me my first look at Chaplin the man (I had only seen him as the Tramp). Overall, an excellent work, and highly recommended. Oh yeah, the film's good too.
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Summary: my first Chaplin film
Review: I take a media arts course at my school and I recently watched this movie in it. I love the guy and the use of the camera was so great for the time period. I guess it's true when they say no one could ever do what he did. The skating scene is great and the plot's good as well. The hearding dissolve at the beginning is a great touch. The only down side is that many people today might not conect as well to the humor, but the character is definately something to remember, and it's worth watching. If you're interested at all in him and his work, I suggest watching the biography movie they made about him. It must be sme form of genius, what he did. I know he probably put so much of himself into it, because as slapstick as it may be, there is honesty in what he did and the messages he tried to get across using a good medium-humor.
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