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The Great Dictator Clippings 288/369

P. S., Detroit Jewish Chronicle, Detroit, Michigan, March 7, 1941.

Michigan Theatre, exterior by day, marquee Joan Crawford

and Clark Gable in „Dancing Lady“ with Franchot

Tone, Big Stage Revue, Del Delbridge vs. Merle Clark,

Eduard Werner Music, Detroit, 1933, Burton

Historical Collection

& Michigan Theatre, auditorium with curtained screen

viewed from balcony, Detroit, undated, Theatre Historical

Society of America

„The great moment“

Editorial content. „,The Great Dictator‘ Is Coming

      ,Let Us Fight for a World of Reason‘ Is Cry Heard

      in Charlie Chaplin‘s History-Making Comedy Deriding

      the Totalitarians

      ,The Great Dictator‘ is coming!

      This would be news anywhere, but it is particular

news for Detroiters today, since the great Charlie Chaplin film

will be at the Michigan Theater beginning on March 14.

      The film itself is not only history-making – it is already

history in itself. In Nazi Germany it has been the

subject for attacks for many months. In latin American countries,

the extent of sympathy or antipathy shown the film

has been measuring rod for the degree of support in the

respective countries for either the democracies

or the dictatorships.

      The Great Dictator is comedy; but it is also the

impersonation of an immense drama depicting the conflicting

forces which make up the world‘s struggle for freedom.

      The great moment in the picture is when Chaplin, as the

Jewish barber who is suddenly placed before the

microphone as the dictator Hynkel delivers the powerful

appeal for justice and brotherhood. It is a solemn

and impressive event when the world‘s greatest comedian

utters these serious words:

      ,I‘m sorry, but I don‘t want to be an emperor. That‘s

not my business. I don‘t want to rule or conquer

anyone. I should like to help everyone, if possible, Jew,

Gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one

another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each

other‘s happiness, not by each other‘s misery.“ (...)

      „You‘ll laugh, and you will be moved to deep solemnity

when you see The Great Dictator. You must not miss

this great performance when it comes to the Michigan Theater

beginning next Friday.

                                                                            –P. S.“

      Photo. „Charlie Chaplin“

      Michigan Theatre, 238 Bagley Street, Detroit.

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