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Al Ernest Garcia, Cecil Reynolds, Charles Chaplin

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95% liked it

29,609 ratings

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100% liked it

47 critics

Unrated, 103 min.

Directed by: Charles Chaplin

Release Date: February 5, 1936

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DVD Release Date: July 1, 2003

Stats: 1,423 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,423)

  • PvtCaboose91
    August 10, 2008
    PvtCaboose91
    Modern Times is classic Charlie Chaplin slapstick comedy, and a timeless experience. The film marks one of Chaplin's most potent movies that still has bucket loads of relevance to typical contemporary audiences.

    In one of his final silent movies (more or less), Chaplin...( read more) plays a worker at a local factory who struggles to live in an industrial society. In a nutshell, the film essentially examines the dehumanisation process of modern industries. In a time when people's lives hinge on getting a steady job and an income, Chaplin's character is still endlessly searching for work with the help of a young homeless woman who is on the run.

    The whole movie is a collection of hilarious gags strung together with not much of a plot, which is the film's biggest downfall, but its entertainment value is what matters most during a silent movie. Like most of Chaplin's silent movies, the film is frequently hilarious.

    As the title character, Chaplin is able to insert a plethora of side-splitting sight gags that never lose steam. I will admit that the opening gags were better quality than the succeeding gags, but I was still laughing from start to finish.

    And Chaplin doesn't utter a word until the very end with his very amusing (and immensely random) dance number while he sings pure gibberish. For the most part, the film is silent. But there are minor instances when dialogue is used, but it is only used for voices coming from mechanical devices. This is another symbol of the film's theme of modern technology and its importance to the typical society at the time.

    Modern Times is a highly hilarious slapstick comedy, but this is only what it seems on the surface. Below the surface; a sleuth of groundbreaking, amazing themes and motifs that seem to become more relevant as humanity becomes ever more reliable on technology. And the film also parallels the American dream in the way that Chaplin and his love interest (played by Paulette Goddard) fantasise about living in a beautiful home with the husband raking in cash while the wife stays at home all day to cook and clean.

    I found the 1930s slapstick gags somewhat predictable at times, but I was always laughing incredibly hard. However, not all audiences will find Chaplin's antics as funny as some others do. In my opinion the comedy is classic and exquisite, and some of the slapstick stunts in the movie are highly intriguing (who could forget that classic image of Chaplin roller-blading blindfolded in a department store) not to mention just plainly uproarious.

    The music used throughout the movie is extraordinary (essential to any silent movie is pertinent music to accompany the almost complete silence on screen). For a scene that includes some of Chaplin's hilarious dancing or otherwise, I found the music to suit the mood extremely well.

    While viewing the movie I was completely amazed about the outstanding restoration job. I could not imagine the film being as entertaining if the transfer wasn't on par. Of course it's no-where near the quality of a film made recently, but for a film over 70 years old it's mind-blowing.

    Modern Times is a comedy that has been regarded as one of the funniest movies of all time. Although not entirely accurate, the film has symbolic meaning under the surface as the filmmakers point out the ills of society. Running at a brisk 83 minutes, the film delivers its message quickly and doesn't overstay its welcome. For the reason of such contemporary significance, the film is groundbreaking and is a fabulous tale to watch even after the time of silent pictures has long passed.
  • columbiatch
    July 1, 2008
    columbiatch
    Chaplin's comic timing is wonderful. The leftist satirical stuff on big business is a bit dated and simplistic. The feeding machine gag is a stroke of genius.
  • rubystevens
    May 8, 2008
    rubystevens
    the little tramp's travails in the industrial age; not strictly silent but utterly charming and paulette goddard is adorable.
  • dooritor1
    May 6, 2008
    dooritor1
    hes funny... hehehehe.
  • hypathio7
    April 30, 2008
    hypathio7
    Love the iconic image of Chaplin being run through the gears. Consider the dehumanization of technology and modern times, though with today's tech I think there is a return to the importance of human connections.
  • Ivan6655321
    September 23, 2009
    Ivan6655321
    "Modern Times" is a film that is constantly playing against the idea of dehumanization and the vile condition of the working class citizens then. Mr. Chaplin used comedic moments, which does not fail to impress, to further the social relevance in the film. But Charles Chaplin him...( read more)self said that he made "Modern Times" or any of his works to entertain people, not to inject social commentaries. But even though how we view it, great comedy or film of social relevance, "Modern Times" still is a masterpiece. The "Smile" tune at the end may cause tears to fall down, as we bid farewell to the legend of the Tramp.
  • bhdr
    September 17, 2009
    bhdr
    What to say more...He is an icon! A must see masterpiece!
  • ElCochran90
    September 11, 2009
    ElCochran90
    Review coming someday...

    99/100
  • vertigoo
    August 23, 2009
    vertigoo
    at the beginnig of MODERN TIMES there is a perfect example of intellectual montage.This type of cutting was invented by Kulesov.The Kulesov effect shows that montage can create meanings...
    ...( read more)r.com/videos?videoId=11051220">
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  • Phonex
    July 20, 2009
    Phonex
    Modern Zamanlar, ya?am?n çal??mak haline geldi?i, insan?n makinenin parças? haline getirildi?i bir dönemin ele?tirisitir. Uzmanla?maya dayal? fordist üretimde hayat? tekdüzele?en ve kendi hayat?na yabanc?la?an insan?n bunal?m?n? anlatmaktad?r.

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Critic Reviews

April 1, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

One of the many remarkable things about Charlie Chaplin is that his films continue to hold up, to attract and delight audiences. full review

December 26, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Modern Times is an ungainly masterpiece, but Chaplin's ungainliness is something one can grow fond of. full review

December 26, 2003
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Chaplin's sentimental politics and peerless comic invention dovetailed more perfectly in this film than in any other he made. full review

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Modern Times Trivia

  • This Charlie Chaplin film is considered to be the last silent film, although the movie does have sounds generated by machines and a song sung in gibberish.  Answer »
  • In which movie does Adrian Brody play a crazy person in modern day times?  Answer »
  • This silent film actor of movies such as The Great Dictator, City Lights,The Kid, and Modern Times was the first on the cover of TIME magazine (July 6, 1925.  Answer »
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