Modern Times

Another Chaplin great, with the tramp, from 1936. Chaplin's film about the depression, about work, about leisure, about dreams.
What we have is an episodic structure, hiding a strong thematic content that is at once a harsh satire on capitalism and a realisation that there is no other way. This is a curious ambivalence; it would be interesting to know exactly where Chaplin's politics lay. There are obvious criticisms of the Fordian production line, yet our hero dreams of work and the perfect bourgeois life.
As a film, we lie slightly by categorising it as silent, due to the sound affects and occasions where dialogue is indeed spoken (or nonsense sung, in the tramp's case). But again we have a transcendent performance from Chaplin, his frame more slight, flexible and fluid than ever. It would be a shame to pick out any one scene above others; but we surely must mention the roller skating on the precipice; this is just stunning. Chaplin was physically gifted beyond measure. We hate to think of the outtakes.
Chaplin directed himself wonderfully; he gives space to use not only his own wonderful physicality (a thousand mannerisms and tics, but at once understated) but also the whole figures of those around him. The narrative structure of following the tramp, but without the P.O.V. shots common nowadays, give lie to the fact that Hollywood cinema has been a narrative led form; this is very much charatcer led (not so much psychologically as physically, an interesting philosophical turn in itself).
'Modern Times' may not be quite as great as 'City Lights' (a couple too many repititions, and what can match the emotional heft and straightforward acuity of 'City Light'?) but is still a masterpiece. The final scene one of the defining images of cinema, Chaplin as the man of the movies.