After the onset of hostilities in Europe, but before the US’s entry into World War II, the most famous movie star of the century launched his most ambitious and controversial project to date: a take-no-prisoners satirical attack on Adolf Hitler and fascism. Charlie Chaplin produced, wrote, directed and starred in The Great Dictator (126 minutes, English, no subtitles) playing both the barely-disguised, buffoonish dictator Adenoid Hynkel and an unassuming Jewish barber who’s his spitting image. The cast is rounded out by Jack Oakie, peerlessly lampooning Mussolini, and Paulette Goddard, Chaplin’s muse, as an innocent young woman threatened by the tyrant’s antisemitism.
The film will be screened in person in the Museum’s Edmond J. Safra Hall. Tickets are $5 each for Museum members or $10 each for the general public. If you’re not a member, join today. If you’re already a member, log in and the member discount will be reflected in your cart.
Hosted in partnership with Senior Programming Consultant Nancy Collet, founder of Cinema Collet.
Public programming at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; a Humanities New York CARES Grant with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal CARES Act; and other generous donors.
