CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S "THE GREAT DICTATOR" IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE WORLD, 1940-45

A Charlie Chaplin biographer called The Great Dictator “an unparalleled phenomenon, an epic incident in the history of mankind.” After debuting in New York in October 1940, Chaplin’s first full-dialog film caused a political firestorm in Latin America and beyond. This biting satire of Adenoid Hynkel (Adolf Hitler) and Benzino Napaloni (Benito Mussolini) conveyed the anti-fascist message that Washington desired, but it angered German and Italian communities and their sympathizers in countries considered essential to the Allied effort. This lecture explores the fascinating circulation of this Hollywood film at a sensitive Good Neighbor moment.