Modern Times (1936)

Subject: Modern Times (1936) Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:21 pm

Another Chaplin film where he plays a Tramp. Initially this was going to be Chaplin's first "talky" but he reverted back to silent format as he felt that the Tramp was better portrayed unheard. Although conversation is heard through radio and sound effects are used that wouldn't have been possible during silent time. This would be the last film Chaplin used this silent format and it's the last time he portrays the Tramp character.

The plot was good as it depicts the Tramp in modern times (hence the title) during the Great Depression as the Tramp is a factory worker who keeps getting unemployed. A running gag is that Chaplin keeps ending up in jail. As there were some great, funny scenes, it didn't really seem to flow that smoothly as his other Tramp movies. Although we do get to to hear Chaplin sing clap

; this is the only time we get to hear how the Tramp sounds.

This isn't the best Tramp movie Chaplin made, but definitely worth seeing if you're a Chaplin fan, especially if you like his other Tramp movies.

75/100
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