English 299B:
Film as Narrative Art
Mr. Kelley
Modern Times
(Charlie Chaplin, 1936)
Modern Times
So far from lacking unity, Modern Times on the
contrary is the film in which the level of acting
style is best maintained, controlling thus the
style of the gags and even of the script. The
ideological significance never impinges from
without on the comic flow of the gags. It is the
imperturbable logic of the latter that utterly
exposed the absurdities of our society.
Andre' Bazin, 1948
Point to Consider
• What are the major tensions or values in the
film?
• What is the position of the "working man" in this
film? How is he portrayed? Can you note any
comparisons with His Girl Friday?
• What is the role of "the machine," literally and
symbolically? How does it relate to the working
man? How does it relate to Chaplin's vision of
modern society?
• What are the varying positions of the wealthy,
the bosses, the cops, and the inventors? How
do they relate or fail to relate to the working
man?
• What is the role of love in the film? How do
these lovers contrast with those of His Girl
Friday?
• How are "lawbreakers" portrayed? How do they
relate to Chaplin's vision of modern society?
• What role does Communist agitation play
in the film? Are there comparisons with His
Girl Friday?
• What is the visual style of the film? Why is
it appropriate for the themes of the film?
• How does the social satire function in the
film? Can you point to some of Chaplin's
targets? Can you describe his satirical
methods
Selected Chaplin Filmography:
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The Kid (1921)
The Circus (1928)
City Lights (1931)
The Great Dictator (1940)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
Limelight (1952)
A King in New York (1957)