This film was spurred on by Charlie Chaplin's film "The Great Dictator"--a film in which he made fun of but also warned the world of the evil beast, Adolph Hitler. And, not surprisingly, it is included on the DVD for "The Great Dictator".It begins by discussing similarities between the two men--such as being born the same month of the same year. And, how the two were polar opposites--Hitler was never accused of being the funniest man on the planet. However, much of the film was not about their similarities and differences but was more of a 'making of' featurette. It discussed such things as the obsessive nature of Chaplin and his directorial style as well as the reaction to the film when it was released.My reason for watching this, more than any, was that it was made by Kenneth Brownlow--one of the foremost experts on silent comedy and who had created the very best documentaries on Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd. Secondly, I love Chaplin's full-length films--though I should admit that "The Great Dictator" is among my least favorite of these films. Folks who adore this film would probably get a bit more out of the documentary. I also really preferred his film "Unknown Chaplin" (also by Brownlow) as it gave much more insight into Chaplin's directorial style. Still, it's well worth seeing and offers a few really nice insights into "The Great Dictator".

Charles Chaplin was a world-renowned comedian who made several masterpieces.Adolf Hitler was his total opposite.But they did have something in common.They were both born in the same week of the same year, 1889.But as persons they were nothing alike.Chaplin was a humanitarian while Hitler was a cold-blooded murderer.Hitler's main target was the Jews, as we all know, and so many of them had their final destination at the concentration camp.He thought Chaplin belonged to the Hebrew race and Charles was called a "disgusting Jewish acrobat.Chaplin went and made a satire called The Great Dictator (1940).The Tramp and the Dictator (2002) tells a little about that classic, narrated by Kenneth Branagh.Many fascinating people talk about their relationship with Chaplin and this film.It's most enjoyable to listen to Budd Schulberg talk about Chaplin and the movie.He's a 95-year old author, a screenwriter and some other things, who's written stuff like The Disenchanted and Waterfront.We learn from this man, who was present at the Nuremberg trials, that he noticed The Great Dictator being mentioned twice in a list of films that had been sent to Hitler.Also Reinhard Spitzy, a member of Hitler's inner circle is convinced The Fuhrer did see the film.Charlie's son, Sydney Chaplin is there sharing his memories.Sadly, Mr. Chaplin died last March at the age of 82.He's remembered working with his father in two films, Limelight (1952) and A Countess from Hong Kong (1967).The blacklisted screenwriter and producer Walter Bernstein, who's 90 now, has a few things to say.Ray Bradbury says that "Comedy is the greatest way to attack a totalitarian regime".Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. has something to say, so does caricaturist Al Hirschfeld and film critic Stanley Kauffman.Nikola Radosevic is a Yugoslav, who worked as a film projectionist during the war.German troops saw a bit of that movie, until an SS officer started shooting at the screen.We also hear the film director Sidney Lumet.He actually attended the film's world premiere.In archive footage we see people like Oona Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and Henry Ford.And sure there's footage of Hitler and Mussolini.The film includes a remarkable footage in color, that shows the making of The Great Dictator.It was found in a suitcase in the cellar of Chaplin's Swiss home.We learn that he planned a completely different ending to the film, with soldiers breaking into a folk dance.The footage shot by the comic's elder brother Sydney shows us the strict directing ways of Charles.For film buffs like me, this documentary is a must-see.You learn so much of this classic known as The Great Dictator.

Kenneth Branagh narrates this documentary directed by film historian Kevin Brownlow and Michael Kloft about the making of Charles Chaplin's film The Great Dictator. The film contrasts the early lives of both Chaplin and Hitler in a way which demonstrates the uncanny similarities between them. Both were interested in the arts at young ages: Chaplin escaped early poverty by performing in music halls; Hitler was rejected as a painter, fell into despair, and became a vagabond who later joined the German army. The film traces Hitler's rise to power and shows archival photos of him with a full mustache in his twenties. It was Hitler who later adopted Chaplin's mustache due to the latter's world wide popularity, indicating Hitler's shrewishness as a public relations wizard. The film contains interesting anecdotes regarding Chaplin's decision to make the film and the political dilemmas he faced in this undertaking. Several well known figures from the film world as well as witnesses during the war years contribute their thoughts and reminiscences. Blacklisted writer Walter Bernstein, writer Ray Bradbury, film critic Stanley Kauffmann, writer Budd Schulberg, Nazi insider Reinhard Spitzy, and Chaplin's son Sidney are chief among them. The film was produced by Turner Classic Movies and is an excellent companion to watching a film that was daring for its time and still stands as an entertaining parody of Hitler's Germany. ***1/2 of 4 stars.

This is a documentary about Charlie Chaplin and his attack on the Nazi-regime with his first talking movie, 'The Great Dictator'. The documentary explains how the film was made, what was going on in the head of Chaplin, how Hitler did handle some things and how those things were used by Chaplin. We see footage of Hitler, Mussolini and of course Chaplin himself. Between that we see people who had to do with Chaplin, including his son and great director Sidney Lumet. A great documentary about a great comedian and a great movie.