Title: The Tramp & The Dictator
Narrated By: Kenneth Branagh
Director: Kevin Brownlow and Michael
Kloft
Running Time: 55 minutes
Media: TCM Original Television
Documentary (NTSC VHS Screener)
World Premiere Tuesday, October 1,
2002, at 8pm (ET)
Network: Turner Classic Movies (Check
your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV Rating: Not Available At The Time Of
Review
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
Turner Classic Movies will premiere
“The Tramp & The Dictator,” a fascinating new documentary that explores
the connections between one of the best loved actors and most hated men of the
20th century – Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler – on Tuesday,
October 1, 2002, at 8PM (ET). The documentary will be accompanied by a festival
of 28 films and 9 wartime cartoons featuring how Hollywood portrayed the Nazis.
Never-before-seen behind-the-scenes color footage from “The Great
Dictator,” Chaplin’s satirical look at Hitler’s Germany, are premiered in
this compelling Turner Classic Movies documentary narrated by Kenneth Branagh,
who brings a regal sense of drama to his narration especially when he points out
the similarities between the two 20th century figures and these
comparisons are not superficial, but ironic or even fateful similarities.
The one-hour documentary includes
interviews with historians, members of both men’s inner circles, Chaplin’s
family members, newsreels, publicity materials, and film clips from Chaplin’s
comedies and Hitler’s propaganda films. The segments help illustrate the
unparalleled phenomenon of the concurrent rise of these two men who were born
within four days of each other in April 1889. Examining obvious similarities and
differences, and how historical events that shaped their lives and impacted the
world. I found it fascinating that “The Great Dictator” was Chaplin’s
first talking feature and his comment of “Hitler being the best actor he ever
saw” is frightening because as much as it could be taken as clever insight,
the truth is Hitler brainwashed a nation because he had a great commanding
presence as an orator and a master of using the misery around him to push his
own agenda. The more I think about it the more terrifying I find it especially
in our uncertain times with terrorism and economic slumps creating nothing short
of paranoia and fear around the world. This is an excellent documentary not only
as a historical document, but in light of recent global events the documentary
reminds us all that we must be vigilant and never forget or the past could
become prologue. Well worth seeing and recording.
“The Tramp & The Dictator” will
premiere on Tuesday, October 1, 2002, at 8pm (ET) with an encore on October 1,
2002, at 11:30pm (ET).
© Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.