[CommunistSam]

[Lackjester]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing. :D

[refugee]

Nice speech, Charlie Chaplin right?

Some thoughts and comments:
(With the understanding that this was made for a 1930-50's audience who knew firsthand the atrocities of WW2).

Pros:
-Great costume
-Impeccable delivery
-Lots of pathos

Cons:
-Too naive
-Somewhat preachy, "Don't do this, don't do that.."
-Wrong about "technology and progress" (if anything it was regressive during WW2)
-Didn't provide a clear vision of the future (too vague, idealistic)

For some reason, this video made me think of the bizarro utopia that is the world of Star Trek, especially TNG. If you watch Star Trek, you'll see a lot of the idealistic elements that he propounded in his speech come true. Which is probably why I love Star Trek.

[wisdomdreams]

absolutely beautiful....

[Hastings]

Excellent delivery.

[Modifier]

amazing speech

[Lemur Leaf]

Nice speech, Charlie Chaplin right?

Some thoughts and comments:
(With the understanding that this was made for a 1930-50's audience who knew firsthand the atrocities of WW2).

Pros:
-Great costume
-Impeccable delivery
-Lots of pathos

Cons:
-Too naive
-Somewhat preachy, "Don't do this, don't do that.."
-Wrong about "technology and progress" (if anything it was regressive during WW2)
-Didn't provide a clear vision of the future (too vague, idealistic)

For some reason, this video made me think of the bizarro utopia that is the world of Star Trek, especially TNG. If you watch Star Trek, you'll see a lot of the idealistic elements that he propounded in his speech come true. Which is probably why I love Star Trek.

I just wanted to respond to this, because I think you've made fair points, but there are just a few things that might be relevant.

When the film was released in 1940, the United States was still formally at peace with Nazi Germany and a lot of knowledge regarding what the Nazis were doing was suppressed until near the end and after the war (five years later) because the Nazis had a strong method of suppressing and burying information.

After the film was released, I think Charlie Chaplin even claimed he felt really bad because he hadn't realized the extent to which concentration camps were used and there were a few jokes about them in the film. So I don't think it was really naive because there was little way of finding out then, but there was a lot of information that the public didn't know at the time.

I think what you've got to remember is that while it was wartime, the Nazis maintained a lot of mystery regarding their practices (particularly in America because they weren't involved at the time), so in order for what would become "the Allies" to gain support, there was a strong sense of black-and-white idealism focusing on a lot of rumors (of which many did actually turn out to be true) regarding the Germans. So I think the vagueness that you mentioned is to be expected, especially with the war being five years away from ending.

In any case, like I said, you made really fair points, especially about the technology bit.

I really enjoy Charlie Chaplin. His work consistently gave (and still gives) so many people hope during really terrible times. He was there during the first World War. He was there during the Great Depression. He was there during the second World War and through the early years of the Cold War. His work has remained public and still garnered attention during the time since then. He's given people the opportunity to laugh when they had little reason to.

I think I'll agree with the many people who've claimed that Charlie Chaplin was (and perhaps still is through his work) a genius.

[Risen from Ashes]

I was like, why is Hitler preaching about this stuff?

[refugee]

I was like, why is Hitler preaching about this stuff?

LOL, you're hilarious :D

[Risen from Ashes]

LOL, you're hilarious :D

Lol, but, butt I was being serious!!! I had to turn it off half way through because I was like, theres no way Hitler would say any of these things! If you are anything other than a German, than he hates you. I'm only like 1/12th German, guess I'm screwed x_x

In case you were wondering...

100% New Zealander

Part German, Australian, French and English. I'm glad my ancestors made the decision to immigrate otherwise they could have got sucked into both wars and I might not be here right now.