Economic Depression and War

Abstract Chapter 6 deals with French responses to the growing politicization of Chaplin’s star image in the 1930s and early 1940s. French critics were aware of attacks by American reviewers on Modern Times as left-wing propaganda. What gave Modern Times real resonance in France was its exposé of factory conditions: the sixth best performer at the French box office in 1936, it was particularly successful in strike-hit industrial cities during the left-wing Popular Front government of Léon Blum. Chaplin’s next film, The Great Dictator, was a satire on fascist leaders with its portrayal of Hynkel/Hitler and Napaloni/Mussolini. Because of the French surrender in 1940 and the German occupation, it would not be seen in France until 1945. French spectators, even while finding the combination of farce and political messaging confusing, demonstrated their continued enthusiasm for Chaplin by making The Great Dictator by far the most popular film in France in 1945.