by Isaac Fletcher
Released in 1936, Modern Times, written, directed, acted and scored by the Great Charles Chaplin, was a critical hit. A comedy about a tramp trying to get by, his struggles with technology, assembly lines, and a depressed society. Heralded by critics, Charles return to the screen after a 5 year break most definitely made a splash. Refusing to hop on the talkie train, Modern Times is a silent movie, full of Chaplin’s signature slapstick and physical comedy. However, it does make strategic use of dialogue and sounds in a few points, such as a musical number sung by Charles himself (in gibberish albeit). Unfortunately, the box office earnings from when the movie was initially released are uncertain. According to IMDb, the movie grossed $3,924,000 in 1936, but for its reissue in 2003, it earned a gross of around $163,577 at the box office (boxofficemojo.com). Regardless of numbers, the movie saw great critical success and has gone down in history as a classic. Earning a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 96% on metacritic and an 8.6/10 on IMDb, it is fairly easy to see the universal love for this film. Not only does it garner acclaim nowadays, it seems to have been a success when it was released and on through the decades in between. Looking at reviews from 1936, one can see the love and respect held by Chaplin, “the lovable little fellow whose hands and feet and prankish eyebrows can beat an irresistible tattoo upon an audience's funnybone or hold it still, taut beneath the spell of human tragedy.” (New York Times). Reviews like Frank S. Nugent’s in 1936, Roger Ebert in 1972, Dave Kehr in 1984 and many others, consistently praise the film as being an excellent work relevant to its era and beyond, as the struggle of social class differences and evolving technology is ever present. Roger Ebert noted the strong audience reaction to this film in his review, mentioning “I can't remember the last time I heard a paying audience actually applaud at the end of a film. But this one did. And the talk afterward in the aisles, the lobby and in line at the parking garage was genuinely excited,” (Roger Ebert). Frank Nugent also recounts in 1936 that movie goers were ecstatic. Overall Modern Times received much praise from critics, as well as audience members. The comedy lived up to the Chaplin standard, innovating with the times yet still remaining true to his roots. A seemingly unanimously enjoyed and timeless film.
Sources:
http://actionspeaksradio.org/chaplin-by-charles-musser-2012/ Charles Musser
1 comment:
One of my favorite moments in all of cinema is the end of this film. When Chaplin gestures to the gamine to smile while the music begins to swell as they walk off into the sunset hand in had, there is nothing more meaningful and beautiful in my opinion.
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