Charlie Chaplin - The Great Dictator Final Speech [Sub Persian] - stirring passions in Iran

[jefferson_dem]

Run time: 04:02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Im4f3Xnz78   Posted on YouTube: July 21, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 24, 2009 By DU Member: jefferson_dem Views on DU: 1826

 
Love it!

Watching Charlie Chaplin in Tehran
By Robert Mackey

In a brief update on Friday, blogger writing the Twitter feed IranRiggedElect says that the video embedded below, of Charlie Chaplin’s final speech in the 1940 film “The Great Dictator” with Farsi subtitles, is popular on Iranian social networks at the moment. In this scene, Chaplin’s character addresses a fascist rally, while impersonating an Adolf Hitler-like leader, and denounces militarism and dictatorship:

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/watching-charlie-chaplin-in-tehran/?

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Recommended! Quite possibly my favorite scene from all of Chaplin's movies!

[jefferson_dem]

2. IMO, this is simply the finest rhetorical defenses of democracy ever put to film...

Timeless...priceless clip.

It's awesome to see it's stirring passions in Iran.

[stuball111]

3. Ironic isn't it...

How so much time can pass, and so little has changed. That movie might as well have come out yesterday. Like Barry McQuires song
"The EVE OF DESTRUCTION", as relevant today as when it was written some 40 odd years ago.

[Libertas1776]

4. I wonder if

Chaplin could have ever imagined how much "The Great Dictator" and more importantly his final, out of character speech has affected the world up to this very day. Truly a remarkable scene, a testament to the greatness that was Chaplin. I hope every young Iranian gets a hold of this speech.

[Dr_Willie_Feelgood]

5. Prayers that every human being on Earth

could see this clip and be touched by its supreme truth and beauty!

[rustydad]

6. Implying?

I hope this post is not implying that Iranians suffer under a dictator? And that they have no Democracy? OTOH the clip is great. Bob

[Wednesdays]

7. I can't say there is definitely a "dictator" and "no democracy" in Iran, but

I have trouble reconciling that with images of unarmed, peaceful protesters being shot to death.

[formercia]

8. Chaplin came to the attention of the 'Authorities.'

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAchaplinC.htm

--snip--

A strong opponent of racism, in 1937 Chaplin decided to make a film on the dangers of fascism. As Chaplin pointed out in his autobiography, attempts were made to stop the film being made: "Half-way through making The Great Dictator I began receiving alarming messages from United Artists. They had been advised by the Hays Office that I would run into censorship trouble. Also the English office was very concerned about an anti-Hitler picture and doubted whether it could be shown in Britain. But I was determined to go ahead, for Hitler must be laughed at." However, by the time The Great Dictator was finished, Britain was at war with Germany and it was used as propaganda against Hitler.

During the Second World War Chaplin played an active role in the American Committee for Russian War Relief. Others involved in this organization included Fiorello La Guardia, Vito Marcantonio, Wendell Willkie, Orson Welles, Rockwell Kent and Pearl Buck. Chaplin was also one of the major figures in the campaign during the summer of 1942 for the opening of a second-front in Europe.

After the Second World War the House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began to investigate people with left-wing views in the entertainment industry. In September 1947 Chaplin was subpoenaed to appear before the HUAC but three times his meeting was postponed. Unknown to Chaplin, J. Edgar Hoover, and the FBI, now had a 1,900 page file on his political activities. Hoover advised the Attorney General that when Chaplin left the country he should be allowed to return.

--snip--