Last movie this week

Today I screened Chaplin's silent film Modern Times, a film I'm pretty familiar with, yet, like many other great works, every time I watch it, I discover something new and reach another level of appreciation. City Lights remains my favorite Chaplin piece, but enough cannot be said about Modern Times. Made nine years after the first "talkie" - The Jazz Singer - and during the early years of sound film, Modern Times falls into the category of silent cinema. While studios embraced sound dialogue and audiences became accustomed to the technological advancement, Chaplin returned to the older format. Once again, his physical comedy and poignant social commentary reached audiences. The film is saturated with so many iconic scenes and images that trying to choose one to capture its essence becomes impossible! There's Chaplin strapped into the feeding machine, moving through the cogs and wheels, roller skating blindfolded on the edge of the 6th floor, and, of course, attempting a career as a waiter. With Paulette Goddard (Chaplin's third wife and my freshman year resident hall's namesake) watching out for Charlie's neck, Modern Times should be added to everyone's lists. FYI: It also moved up 3 spots (81 to 78) on AFI's top 100 list.