“THE GREAT DICTATOR”

Southland Times, Issue 24433, 13 May 1941, Page 7

“THE GREAT DICTATOR”

THURSDAY AT STATE

The most eagerly awaited screen event of all time takes place when “The Great Dictator” opens its season at a Gala premiere at 10.30 p.m. on Thursday next at the State Theatre. The picture will be shown at both State and Civic Theatres on Friday, Saturday and Monday. In his long-awaited film, “Tlie Great Dictator,” Charlie Chaplin proves that he is outstanding as a satirist and a social critic. His pantomimic skill is not only unimpaired, but has also been further developed by a feeling deeper than he has hitherto put into his characters. In “The Great Dictator” he emerges in a new role, for behind his relentless satirizing of Hitler there is the burning hatred that determined him to make the role of Hynkel as biting and as scathing a caricature as the screen has seen. It is as Hynkel, more than as the little barber who suffers from amnesia in the Great War and is later mistaken foi’ the Dictator of Tomania, that Chaplin makes most impression, despite the appeal of the little barber’s futility and pathos. The surprise if the film is toward the end, when the comedian abruptly drops his pose of the little Jewish barber forced to impersonate the dictator and addresses the audience on behalf of those who throughout the film have cried: “Why don’t they leave us alone and in peace.” Jack Oakie, as the companion dictator Napaloni, and Billy Gilbert as the

bulky Herring, give excellent portrayals. Preferential box plans for State Theatre are at Begg’s or State. Civic plans are at Matheson’s (next Civic Theatre). Telephone reserves will not be accepted until Friday.