Charlie Chaplin- Modern Times

On Thursday 24th October I attended a viewing and discussion of Modern Times at the Pheonix Theatre in London, I was very interested in watching the film as I have never watched a silent film and I knew that Charlie Chaplin is iconic within the film industry.
This is a trailer of Modern Times made by a YouTube user.

I found the film intriguing as the film was humorous with the exaggeration of movement and expressions to convey emotions but the undertone of the film is very serious such as the mistreatment of the factory workers which led them to have the Factory Workers Protest were Charlie Chaplin was accidentally involved and the police arrested him. Throughout the film people who have superior roles within society are shown by speaking roles which was the manager and when the police entered a scene dramatic music was played which reinforces their power, Chaplin made the authority seem careless for instance the police station was raided by criminals and Chaplins character who is seen as low class and 'mad' saves them. Police were seen as against the poor as they wrongly accused Chaplin of being the ring leader to the protest and they continuously tried to arrest the young women. I knew that there was hardly any speaking in the film but I was surprised to see text which is quotes of what the characters are saying in the shot.

In the beginning of the conference we was given a sheet with questions about the film to answer at the end of the viewing, these are the questions:

1. Silent films were no longer made in Hollywood after 1929. Why do you think Chaplin decided to make Modern Times in 1936 as a silent movie?

I think that Chaplin still created a silent film even though history was against him as dialogue was beginning to be used in films because he wanted to protect his image as he is iconic for silent films. It could be argued that silent films are more intriguing in comparison to dialogue films as the actors in silent films have convey the correct emotions to portray the storyline and in dialogue films the emotions and the audience thoughts on the dialogue cannot be interpreted or developed but in silent films the audience imagination is used more. Also, Chaplin would be been able to challenge the politics during that time without being too explicit and being complained about.

2. What was your favourite sequence of the film - why?

My favourite scene in the film was when Charlie Chaplin sang a song as it represents that he has become higher within society as only the authoritative roles speak during the film, this portrays that even though he was arrested he is a 'respected' person. Chaplin singing in the film is very iconic as it was the first time that he spoke in one of his films which shows that he needed to keep the audience entertained and through singing he did not ruin his image. This is a clip of the singing scene.

3. What ideas did you have about Charlie Chaplin before today's film? Have these been challenged by watching Modern Times?

Originally I thought that Charlie Chaplin only starred in the films however I found out that Chaplin starred, directed and came up with the ideas. Also, I thought that Chaplin only created comedy films and I did not understand how humour could be expressed without any dialogue but the use of exaggeration, the close up shots of the characters facial expression and the use of movement such as when Chaplin was blindfolded and he was skating at the same time earned many laughs in the cinema. I never knew that Chaplin does include social historical times to portray society such as the hard labour in the beginning of the workers and then the strike shows there determination and the harshness in society.

4. For a long part of his career Chaplin was criticised as being "un-American" in the messages contained in his films. This became particularly bad in the decade after Modern Times and finally things got so bad for him that he moved permanently to Switzerland in 1952. Can you see any evidence in Modern Times to explain the criticisms made of him?

Chaplin could as been as "un-American" as Modern Times seems like is was made in England which is shown by the policemen who were wearing English Policeman's uniform, it could be seen that the film has 'English' humour as it is quirky and witty.

For films we have chosen for these screenings the topic of Home and Identity.

1. In Modern Times is there a sense of 'home'- or is this a film about surviving without a home?

There is an element of surviving without a home in the film as the young women has been taken away from her family and she steals from market stalls to provide food for her family which creates a 'motherly' role which reinforces the idea of home. Both Chaplin and the girl dream of having the perfect home and the perfect life but Chaplin is showing the reality of the situation by the cottage which is falling apart and at the end of the film the couple walk down the road hand in hand which shows that they are going to create their version of a perfect life.

2. Why do you think Chaplin held on to the same screen identity through so many films, including Modern Times? What is the identity?The screen identity throughout this film portrays Chaplin as 'mad' and a 'criminal' although he seems charming and a reliable as he tries to go back to prison as he felt secure and safe in prison.

3. Does the girl (the gamin) offer a different idea of home from Charlie?

The girls dream of the perfect home seems high class and glamorous as she tried on a fur coat and went to sleep in a double bed with white blanket which represents her naivety and innocence in comparison to Chaplin as he only wants security and simplicity which is why he tries to return to prison.

4. What do you think of the ending of the film? Are the pair going off to find a home?

I think that the couple does try to find a home as they are both desperate for a home and some one to love which is why they seemed happy in the cottage as they had a home, although I think that Chaplins intentions were to promise the audience a happy ending as both characters deserved to be happy.

I found the conference very insightful and I am going to attend the next conference held which is a viewing and discussion of Last Resort. A recent music video reminds me of Modern Times as they both have similar editing and the ideas of a happy ending is conveyed and the police and the managers are seen as negative influences, this is the video to 'We Speak No Americano by Yolanda Be Cool VS DCup'