I hadn't laughed so hard during a film as I did yesterday when I watched Modern Times from Charlie Chaplin.
It turns out that in the novel something happens in 1936 and, as a result, I have become increasingly intrigued by this year: what was the world like then?
In 1936, Chaplin wrote, directed and performed in this film, which was received to great acclaim. It is the story of a factory worker at a time where the US was dealing, coping, celebrating massive industralization.
It is impressive for Chaplin to remain a universal character after decades, a person who needs no language to be hilarious. And perhaps more impressive still to be able to master comedy as a means to deal with the anguish of his time.
Not many comedians can be (seriously) funny about things that aren't. But he insisted in highlighting rather than concealing the world's hard modern realities from tragically high unemployment and desperate poverty to street riots, angry workers and broke employers...The world that was trying to recover from a massive financial heart atttack in the US while destroying the lives of so many.
(I could not help but thinking of the paradox to be watching a film that speaks of the same, same, same problems almost 80 years later).
On a lighter note, look at this video. Here he is supposed to sing (to earn some dollars) but we know he cannot. So he improvises.
The video also matters as it is the first time audiences could hear Chaplin's voice in a movie. This was the last great silent movie Hollywood ever made. So his signing also mark the transition to a new era: sound.
And the best is that I was not watching the film because I wanted to laugh through comedy.
No.
I was being a nerd, wearing my glasses and doing research.
No.
I was being a nerd, wearing my glasses and doing research.
It turns out that in the novel something happens in 1936 and, as a result, I have become increasingly intrigued by this year: what was the world like then?
In 1936, Chaplin wrote, directed and performed in this film, which was received to great acclaim. It is the story of a factory worker at a time where the US was dealing, coping, celebrating massive industralization.
It is impressive for Chaplin to remain a universal character after decades, a person who needs no language to be hilarious. And perhaps more impressive still to be able to master comedy as a means to deal with the anguish of his time.
Not many comedians can be (seriously) funny about things that aren't. But he insisted in highlighting rather than concealing the world's hard modern realities from tragically high unemployment and desperate poverty to street riots, angry workers and broke employers...The world that was trying to recover from a massive financial heart atttack in the US while destroying the lives of so many.
(I could not help but thinking of the paradox to be watching a film that speaks of the same, same, same problems almost 80 years later).
On a lighter note, look at this video. Here he is supposed to sing (to earn some dollars) but we know he cannot. So he improvises.
The video also matters as it is the first time audiences could hear Chaplin's voice in a movie. This was the last great silent movie Hollywood ever made. So his signing also mark the transition to a new era: sound.
