MovieChat Forums > Modern Times (1936) Discussion > Better title would have been 'Hardly Wor...

Better title would have been 'Hardly Working'

posted 14 years ago by edwardholub
3 replies | jump to latest

A lot of critics have read political symbolism into this movie, but it's really just a monotonous series of short working periods balanced by prison sentences. Charley get a job/goes to jail, Charlie gets another job/goes to jail. Shake and repeat. It's not even that funny because Chaplin pushes the political message and perfection of product over laughs. And he was a perfectionist. The only other person who comes close to the number of shot takes is Stanley Kubrick.

There is no "off" position on the genius switch.

[–] Errington_92 14 years ago

I think the title of 'Modern Times' is suitable for the film. To me the film conveys Chaplin's views of how he saw contemporary life during the period of the Great Depression, that reality was harsh for the working class.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] heyuactor 10 years ago

^^this

"Did you make coffee? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] sage2112 9 years ago

Your signature is a much more appropriate post than your post. In regards to Chaplin, of course - not you.