Masterpiece Film Series: Modern Times

"Modern Times" **** (out of ****)

"Modern Times." A story of industry, of individual enterprise - humanity crusading in the pursuit of happiness."
opening credit of "Modern Times"

The first image we see in Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" is of a flock of sheep. The image is juxtapose with a group of workers headed towards a factory. If we read the two images correctly, it would seem Chaplin is making the case, workers are like a flock of wandering sheep.

The next scene shows us the president of the company, sitting down restlessly putting together a puzzle, reading a newspaper. Here we see a disconnect between the factory owners and the workers. Maybe, it is the owners who see sheep when looking at the workers?

When you consider these images with the opening credit, it wouldn't seem like "Modern Times" is a comedy, but it is. That was the unique gift of Chaplin. He could take a story ripe for tragedy and find laughter in it.

"Modern Times" was released in 1936, America was still in a depression, but, things weren't as bad as they were in 1932, before FDR was elected president. Still, the country was hurting. At its core "Modern Times" is suppose to represent the dehumanization of man, as he must be replaced by machine. Machine and man do not get along in Chaplin's film. At one point, Chaplin gets stuck inside a machine. For a brief moment, man and machine are one. But at other moments they are enemies. A company tries to sell the factory a device which we feed workers as they work, to reduce lunch time and keep production going. The machine doesn't work. It has a malfunction, perhaps suggesting the idea, machines are not reliable and cannot nor should not replace man. Especially when so many people are out of work and in need of a job.

"Modern Times" has always been my favorite Chaplin film. I know "City Lights" and "The Gold Rush" are more highly regarded, but, "Modern Times" has a better sense of structure. Many have argued over the years that Chaplin's films sometimes lose sight of their story and becomes mini comic episodes for Chaplin to display his comedic abilities. I don't really agree with that opinion but, "Modern Times" does a pretty good job of staying "on message" and hitting home its theme. It doesn't stray from the film's ultimate objective.

Chaplin, I should also mention, is my favorite comedy director. Now, of course that is a subjective statement. Everyone has their own favorite. Of the silent clowns some may argue Keaton was better or Harold Lloyd. I agree, both of those men were extremely funny. But, Chaplin has an edge over them. Because Chaplin could combine pathos and comedy so effortlessly I become more involved with his characters and their situations. Chaplin seemed to have a better sense of character development and story structure.

At its original time of release "Modern Times" was set to be Chaplin's first talkie. What it became was the last silent film made. But Chaplin does allow sound effects to be part of the story. In a very clever decision, Chaplin allows sound to only come from electronic devices. Near the end of the film Chaplin sings a song, but it is in gibberish.

The film ends on a surprising hopeful note. Paulette Goddard plays a Gamin who travels along with Chaplin's Tramp as they search for a job. Her father has died and her sisters have been taken away to an orphanage, but, this does not deter the characters. The film ends with perhaps one of the most memorable images in film history. Chaplin and Goddard walk along together in the sunlight, hand and hand hopeful of what tomorrow will bring. In the background the song "Smile" plays. It makes for a very emotional moment. Its one of the reasons why "Modern Times" is one of the masterpieces of cinema.