#44 Modern Times

In Summary

Modern Times is a film about changing times. Made during the Great Depression at a time when cinema was moving into the talking era, Charlie Chaplin's final silent film is both a love-letter to a dying art form and a critique of the heartlessness of capitalism.

While much of the film serves as a platform for Chaplin's typical slapstick comedy set-pieces, there is a much greater narrative drive than in Chaplin's previous work. The comedy is driven by his iconic Little Tramp character's search for work and his romance with 'The Gamin' - played by Chaplin's then wife, Paulette Goddard.

Modern Times features some of Chaplin's most iconic comedy routines, including the automatic feeding machine, the factory meltdown, the nose powder, and the roller skating scenes. While clearly played for laughs, many of these sketches speak to the dehumanisation and desperation that modern capitalism engenders.

Chaplin's final silent film is not technically a silent film, featuring a handful of instances of spoken dialogue. Although this is obscured by delivering the spoken word mostly via machines - perhaps attempting to associate talking films with the machinery of capitalism. However, the most famous spoken words in the film though come via the Little Tramp himself.

With the whole world waiting for Chaplin's iconic character to finally speak, the filmmaker thumbs his nose in response by delivering a song written in an entirely nonsense language. The irony of the Little Tramp's 'nonsense song' is that it is Chaplin's actions rather than his words that convey his meaning - spoken words entirely dependent on silent actions.

As ever with Charlie Chaplin, there is also a romanticism at the heart of the film. It is clear from the way in which Paulette Goddard is filmed that Chaplin is in love with this woman, she is made to look glowing and radiant. For all of the social commentary within Modern Times, the message of the film is to keep your chin up, keep trying and perhaps you too can eventually find work and love.

A Memorable Quote

The Gamin': What's the use of trying?

Little Tramp: Buck up - never say die. We'll get along.

Things You May Not Know

• The original ending of the film was supposed to feature the Little Tramp having a nervous breakdown and being visited in hospital by The Gamin', who had become a nun.
• As with his other films, Chaplin helped write all of the music for Modern Times. Most notably, this includes the basis for the song later known as 'Smile', made famous by Nat King Cole. 
• Chaplin initially intended for the film to be his first official 'talkie', however, he decided against doing so as he didn't want the world to hear his Little Tramp character speak. 

One of the Greatest of All Time?
For anyone unfamiliar with silent film, Modern Times is a great place to start. Possibly Chaplin's finest work, this is a film that has clearly been made with a lot of hard work and affection by someone wanting to end an era of filmmaking on a high point.

Not only does a lot of the comedy still hold up, but the social commentary remains as biting as ever. Modern Times is an absolute triumph.