“THE GREAT DICTATOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1941, Page 8

“THE GREAT DICTATOR”

CHAPLIN'S FAMOUS COMEDY. The great and inimitable Charles Chaplin, who for a generation had maintained pre-eminence as the leading comedian of the screen, returns to the screen in “The Great Dictator,’ the master work upon which he bent his tireless energies for two years and the picture which is causing international repercussions. “The Great Dictator, which will be shown at the State Theatre, commencing on Friday, June 13, i s a film that stands alone as the shining achievement of a brilliant man. The story (which Chaplin wrote himself) is based partly on fact. It deals with the fortunes of a citizen of Germany, a contented, busy little Jewish barber (this role is played by Chaplin) who serves in the army of his country in 1918. Injured in the war while saving a fellow soldier, he goes to the hospital and emerges, years later, in ignorance of the political changes that have taken place in the country in whose service he offered his life. There follows a series of amusing episodes. Other excellent characterisations are given by Billy Gilbert as a Goering-like "Herring.” Henry Daniell as a Goebbels-like ’'Garbitsch”; Reginald Gardiner and Maurice Moscovitch. The opening session will take place at 2.15 p.m. on Friday afternoon, followed by a presentation at 8 p.m. On Saturday there will be three sessions—at 10.30 a.m.. 2.15 p.m. and B p.m.