Modern Times

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Modern Times

G

1936

1h 29m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

98%

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113 Reviews

95%

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25,000+ Ratings

This comedic masterpiece finds the iconic Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) employed at a state-of-the-art factory where the inescapable machinery completely overwhelms him, and where various mishaps keep getting him sent to prison. In between his various jail stints, he meets and befriends an orphan girl (Paulette Goddard). Both together and apart, they try to contend with the difficulties of modern life, with the Tramp working as a waiter and eventually a performer.

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Critics Consensus

A slapstick skewering of industrialized America, Modern Times is as politically incisive as it is laugh-out-loud hilarious.

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Ella H. McCormick

Detroit Free Press

05/06/2021

Several high spots stand out as notable examples of Chaplin's expert timing of slapstick burlesque, scenes that are apt to make the spectator shed tears from the strain of laughter.

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Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

05/06/2021

There are reminders of every Chaplin picture that was ever made all through Modern Times and there are enough brand new comic inventions to explain why Charlie takes such a long time between pictures and why they are so superlatively worth waiting for.

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Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

05/06/2021

What most amazes you about Modern Times, is the fact that, in this day of superfine sound films, it says everything without saying anything.

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Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Jul 12

With Modern Times’ wondrous balancing act of comedy, tragedy, sound, and silence, Chaplin proves himself to be as skillful of an artist behind the camera as he is in front of it.

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Jeremy Carr

Vague Visages

11/15/2023

Emblematic of a ‘Hollywood realism,’ with a rather immaculate industrial setting, strategically tattered clothing and deliberately designed destitution.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

06/11/2023

The surreal scene of Chaplin being wound through the gears of the factory machinery remains one of the most iconic images in film history: the little guy who manages not to get ground up in the machine.

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Ali Stevenson

06/20/2021

I love Modern Times so much I came back for the second showing! See my earlier post.

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power E.

@torturecide 6d

《摩登时代》是默片时代的巅峰绝唱，也是工业文明最尖锐的讽刺寓言。以黑色幽默解构大萧条时期的资本异化——流水线上永无止境的拧螺丝动作，不仅逼疯了夏尔洛，更揭示了机械文明对人性的吞噬。那个被强行喂食的"自动喂饭机"场景，将工人沦为工具的逻辑演绎得荒诞而残酷。卓别林以滑稽舞步对抗工业齿轮，用身体喜剧承载社会批判。当他在百货商场深夜独舞，或在街头慌乱地扛起红旗，滑稽表象下是对自由与尊严的执着追寻。结尾夏尔洛与流浪女携手走向未知地平线，既是个人主义的倔强宣言，也是电影艺术黄金时代最后的温柔回眸。这部近百年前的作品至今锋利——当算法与KPI成为新时代的流水线，夏尔洛的疯狂与抗争依然令人心有戚戚

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Beau L

@beauluna Apr 6

A very modern movie! No pun intended, but this was decades ahead of its time in both plot and characterization. While extremely silly, it succeeds in depicting the reality of a lower-class worker, and how poverty can become an inescapable cycle. The Gamin's character was the most surprising element of this film for me; she was so strong-willed and smart, cementing her as an amazing leading lady. The only downside to it was the strangely episodic nature of the plot, which changes every twenty minutes or so. For instance, the Gamin's relationship with her sisters is rendered obsolete when they're taken away for adoption. She never thinks of or mentions them again.

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Garrett B

@gmoney637 Mar 5

Modern Times still remains ahem……….a "Modern" Classic.

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Lisa M

@LisaMelzer Mar 2

Excellent movie. Amazingly still extremely accurate nearly a 100 years later. It is a movie I think about the commentary all the time. For a non-talking movie that says something.

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Pedro S

@Salazar26ty Dec 1

This film is not my cup of coffee, but it does tackle some serious problems of its era.

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Charlie Chaplin

Director

Charlie Chaplin

A Factory Worker

Paulette Goddard

A Gamin

Henry Bergman

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Synopsis

This comedic masterpiece finds the iconic Little Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) employed at a state-of-the-art factory where the inescapable machinery completely overwhelms him, and where various mishaps keep getting him sent to prison. In between his various jail stints, he meets and befriends an orphan girl (Paulette Goddard). Both together and apart, they try to contend with the difficulties of modern life, with the Tramp working as a waiter and eventually a performer.

Director: Charlie Chaplin
Producer: Charlie Chaplin
Screenwriter: Charlie Chaplin
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Charles Chaplin Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 1936, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $163.2K
Runtime: 1h 29m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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