CHAPLIN’S NEW FILM

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1939, Page 5

CHAPLIN’S NEW FILM

PRODUCTION DELAYED. — HOLLYWOOD. August 31. Although the world is eagerly awaiting Mr Charles Chaplins new film, “The Dictators. - its author, who will also play the. principal part, continues to delay the start ot the production’. While Mr Chaplin fully appreciates the arguments of those who maintain( that this picture, poking fun at superman leadership, would provoke laughter at a time when it is badly needed, he hesitates to go before the cameras w’hile the European situation remains so uncertain. Moreover, it is understood that pressure has been brought to bear on him by the State Department to avoid incensing Hitler and Mussolini in the present delicate state of international relationships. Mr Chaplin changes the script daily. Until recently, for instance, he thought of calling one of the dictaiorr. in his comedy “Der Phoocy,” phooey being a popular American expression roughly corresponding to the English “fiddlesticks.” He now thinks, however, that if war were in progress when the picture "Was released it. would be better to employ a name striking a more sinis-

ter nede. since the democracies would presumably no longer feel inclined to regard Hitler as being in any sense funny. llc> is convinced that if war is avoided for another month it will be postponed for a year at. least. On this assumption he has made tentative plans to start shooting in October.