Chaplin - The Dictator Speech - Essay Example

Film Journal al Affiliation Film Journal Chaplin - The Dictator Speech The short speech, delivered in five minutes, was replete with Chaplin’s physical humor: the exaggerated gestures (use of hands and arms), the coughing due to emphatic speech, drinking of water from a glass poured from a pitcher and eventually emptying the water inside his pants, ordering urgent stopping of applause at the flicker of his right hand, and gestures to explain the messages being relayed (tightening of the belt), among others. Thus, it was evident that the effectiveness of the satirical analogy of Chaplin to Hitler was the exaggerated use of his body to assert political statements (gesticulation). Likewise, he uses facial expressions (flickering of eyelids, movements of his mouth, and the rising and falling of his eyelids to assert important points. The movements that were most effective were those that allegedly enticed audience appeal through the use of humor and applause: coughing due to emphatic high pitch, stating long discourse to be interpreted in short meanings, and exaggerating the intensity of the speech through evoking strange movements of the microphone. Finally, Chaplin was able to evoke and parody Triumph of the Will by asserting that his speech is being delivered in front of thousands of Nazi supporters, through long shots. The speech exemplified a propaganda for his political campaign. Likewise, the short speech allegedly embodied excerpts of relevant messages relaying his message to the world – nothing but peace in his heart, which is also a satire and an exact irony to his political ideologies. The reader - Concentration camp As Michael visits the Stutthof concentration camp, the experience evoked an eerie feeling for the audience through the effective use of light and shadow (The reader - Concentration camp, n.d.). The bunk beds were shown through some rays of light that shine through the series of small windows just below the ceiling. Likewise, a long corridor with wooden slits atop the floor showcased dark and intermittent light to manifest a frightening feeling as the audience is given the glimpse of the manner by which Jews were confined in the concentration camp. It is as if the audience awaits for some ghostly apparition that might suddenly appear. The dark portions of the rooms were most effective in heightening suspense and fear. When Michael emerged in a room filled with millions of shoes, the more that the scene evoked fear and anxiety as one could imagine what happened to the people who once wore these shoes. Based on one’s analysis, the scene where Michael had to discover for himself the condition of the concentration camp bore significance to the film in terms of enabling the audience to imagine and rationalize the reason why Hanna was being charged for war crimes as one of the female guards in the concentration camp during that time. There were low-angle shots where Michael’s shoes were being focused while walking along the wooden planks. The slow, coordinated walks that Michael exhibited contributed to the melodramatic effect of the scene/s. Rome, Open City (1945) The settings and props effectively contribute to the aesthetic vision of neorealism through ensuring accuracy in application and in details. For instance, the use of the shaver, shaving cream, pipe, brush for shining the shoes, the accessories in the bedroom (lamp shade, chair), and even the costumes (suspenders), hat and overcoat, all contribute to realistic atmosphere within the indicated setting and time frame. Likewise, when the Germans apparently stormed the tenement, the use of vehicles that were acclimatized to the times were also highly commendable. The costumes of the German soldiers, as well as the ordinary citizens (including women and children) abide by the need to accuracy in details. The film makers used high angle shots or extreme long shots during the part where the Germans in trucks stormed the city. This angle was necessary to accommodate the trucks, as well as the deserted streets within the tenement or residential buildings. These observations could be connected to the political message of Rome, being an Open City through emphasizing that the citizens could still move freely in the streets. Likewise, as shown by the conduct and behavior of the characters, they initially appeared relaxed and were still accessible to some of the comforts in life (shaving, shining shoes, bringing flowers). Through editing and cutting of scenes, the audience is provided with views of different characters, in diverse situations and settings. The props and settings definitely contributed to the aesthetic vision of neorealism through the effective interplay of accuracy in selection of costumes, objects, visual representations, and other images that pertain to the era depicted in the film. The Human Condition: No Greater Love/Ningen no joken I The film clip from 55:31 to 57:49 focused on the dialogue between male characters within an enclosed Japanese concentration camp and a sole character outside the barbed wired fence (The Human Condition:No Greater Love/Ningen no joken I, 2012). The scene could be evaluated as an extreme angle shot where the rest of the characters at the background were shown to the audience. Likewise, the viewers could also appreciate the landscape and scenery at the background despite the black and white film. The expression and voice intonation of the characters were also instrumental in affirming the intense emotions that were being exhibited. A soft accompanying background music started playing at about 56:40 to commemorate the entrance of the ladies. The scene apparently caught the attention of the males within the camp. The question of ethics could be surmised in terms of alleging that these ladies intentionally came into the all-male camp to provide sexual favors. For conservative societies and audiences, the scene could be highly controversial and could entice mixed emotions in terms of questing the morality and adherence to ethical standards, as well as values of chastity. In addition, portrayal of women through the scene could be contested in societies that promulgate human rights and scorn the image of women as objects to satisfy sexual favors. References McMarsland, A. (n.d.). Chaplin - The Dictator Speech. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4UhJpviVYg Rome, Open City (1945) pt. 1. (1945). Retrieved from Daily Motion: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15g3ok_rome-open-city-1945-pt-1_creation The Human Condition:No Greater Love/Ningen no joken I. (2012, September 14). Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dezkOs9jCQ The reader - Concentration camp. (n.d.). Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGZetpLXpCQ#t=36 Read More