Modern Times (1936)

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writer:

Charles Chaplin (written by)

Release Date:

25 February 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

He stands alone as the greatest entertainer of modern times! No one on earth can make you laugh as heartily or touch your heart as deeply...the whole world laughs, cries and thrills to his priceless genius!

Plot:

The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.

Plot Keywords:

Machine | Invention | Police | Tramp | Jail

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Charles Chaplin	...	A Factory Worker (as Charlie Chaplin)
Paulette Goddard	...	A Gamin
Henry Bergman	...	Cafe Proprietor
Tiny Sandford	...	Big Bill (as Stanley Sandford)
Chester Conklin	...	Mechanic
Hank Mann	...	Burglar
Stanley Blystone	...	Gamin's Father
Al Ernest Garcia	...	President of the Electro Steel Corp. (as Allan Garcia)
Richard Alexander	...	Prison Cellmate (as Dick Alexander)
Cecil Reynolds	...	Minister
Mira McKinney	...	Minister's Wife (as Myra McKinney)
Murdock MacQuarrie	...	J. Widdecombe Billows (as Murdoch McQuarrie)
Wilfred Lucas	...	Juvenile Officer
Edward LeSaint	...	Sheriff Couler (as Ed Le Sainte)
Fred Malatesta	...	Cafe Head Waiter
Sammy Stein	...	Turbine Operator (as Sam Stein)
Juana Sutton	...	Woman with Buttoned Bosom
Ted Oliver	...	Billows' Assistant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Norman Ainsley	...	Billows' Silent Assistant (uncredited)
Bobby Barber	...	Worker (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin	...	Assembly Line Worker Next to Big Bill (uncredited)
Gloria DeHaven	...	Gamin's Sister (uncredited)
Gloria Delson	...	Gamin's sister (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Shipbuilder (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Worker (uncredited)
Pat Harmon	...	Paddywagon Policeman (uncredited)
Lloyd Ingraham	...	Frustrated Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Walter James	...	Assembly Line Foreman (uncredited)
Edward Kimball	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Jack Low	...	Worker (uncredited)
Buddy Messinger	...	Cigar Counterman (uncredited)
Bruce Mitchell	...	Paddy Wagon Policeman (uncredited)
Frank Moran	...	Convict (uncredited)
James C. Morton	...	Assembly Line Relief Man (uncredited)
Louis Natheaux	...	Burglar (uncredited)
J.C. Nugent	...	Department Store Section Manager (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	Gypsy in Police Patrol Wagon (uncredited)
John Rand	...	Other Waiter (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Chaplin		(as Charlie Chaplin)

Writing credits
Charles Chaplin		(written by) (as Charlie Chaplin)

Produced by
Charles Chaplin	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Charles Chaplin		(music composed by) (as Charlie Chaplin)

Cinematography by
Ira H. Morgan		(photography) (as Ira Morgan)
Roland Totheroh		(photography) (as Rollie Totheroh)

Film Editing by
Charles Chaplin		(uncredited)
Willard Nico		(uncredited)

Casting by
Al Ernest Garcia		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Charles D. Hall		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
J. Russell Spencer		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Charles D. Hall		(settings)
J. Russell Spencer		(settings) (as Russell Spencer)

Makeup Department
Elizabeth Arden	....	makeup artist: Mr. Chaplin and Miss Goddard (uncredited)

Production Management
Alfred Reeves	....	general production manager (uncredited)
Jack Wilson	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carter DeHaven	....	assistant director
Henry Bergman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Hal Atkins	....	props (uncredited)
William Bogdanoff	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Bob Depps	....	props (uncredited)
Joe Van Meter	....	purchasing agent (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bud Thackery	....	process photography (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Max M. Autrey	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Don Donaldson	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Morgan Hill	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Mark Marlatt	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Ted Minor	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Testera	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Music Department
Frank Maher	....	music recordist
Paul Neal	....	music recordist
Alfred Newman	....	conductor
Edward B. Powell	....	music arranger (as Edward Powell)
David Raksin	....	music arranger
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Girwood Averill	....	projectionist (uncredited)
Catherine Hunter	....	press representative (uncredited)
Della Steele	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Joe Van Meter	....	purchasing agent (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Charles Chaplin Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1936) (USA) (theatrical)
• Dr. Hauser & Company (1936) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Tobis-Filmverleih (1936) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1936) (UK) (theatrical)
• Classic Entertainment (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Manga Films (2003) (Spain) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1936) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés S.A.)
• CBS/Fox (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Capitol International Video (????) (Italy) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• MK2 Diffusion (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Masses (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Portugal:M/6 | USA:Approved (PCA #1596) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Denmark:A (2003) | Norway:7 | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | Australia:G | West Germany:6 (bw)

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Boulevard & Vine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Charles Chaplin Productions

Trivia:

The film originally ended with Charles Chaplin's character suffering a nervous breakdown and being visited in hospital by the gamin, who has now become a nun. This ending was filmed, though apparently only still photographs from the scene exist today (they are included in the 2003 DVD release of the film). Chaplin dropped this ending and shot a different, more hopeful ending instead.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Chaplin grabs the passing chain to flee from his workmates, the next shot shows him actually sitting in the chain with the straps of his overalls undone and hanging free. Prior to this and when he is back on the ground the straps of his overalls are done up.

Quotes:

President of the Electro Steel Corp.: [from the Telescreen in the restroom to the factory worker] Hey you! Get back to work!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: (#8.40)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Je cherche après Titine

One of the funniest movies (silent or talkie) ever!

This movie is a must see for anyone who loves comedies. Charlie Chaplin is at his all-time best as the Tramp, and he has wonderful chemistry with Paulette Goddard's Gamin. Together, they provide an hour and a half of non-stop laughs. My favorite parts are when he is fed by a "modern" machine that goes awry, and then when Charlie goes crazy in the factory. The situations and expressions are hilarious! Please see this movie soon...you definitely will not regret it.