Welcome back! Here we are with the last Letterboxd List Review of November. This week we dip our toes into yet another new list with Letterboxd’s Top 100 Silent Films. More specifically, we’ll look at #7 on that list (as of this writing), the mostly silent…Modern Times (1936).
Title: Modern Times
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes
Released: February 5, 1936 (Premiere in NYC and theatrically released in Turkey)
Available to stream on: Criterion Channel, Kanopy, MAX, Prime, and Tubi
Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times is a sharp look at how exhausting and overwhelming life can be when everything revolves around work and survival.
The story starts with the Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) working in a factory, struggling to keep up with an assembly line that’s moving way too fast. It quickly becomes clear how little workers are valued in this world, simply reduced to tools in a system that chews up workers and spits them out. For instance, the scene of the malfunctioning feeding machine meant to save time, yes, it’s funny, but it also perfectly captures the absurdity of trying to optimize every second of a worker’s shift and overall life.
Chaplin’s performance is magnetic. Without saying a word, he communicates so much through his expressions and movements, making the Tramp feel deeply human. When he does use his voice for the first time in film, during a gibberish song, it’s a standout moment that’s both surprising and impactful.
The visual design of the film is quite impressive. The factory scenes are massive and oppressive, with looming machines that appear to be lurking and waiting for their moment to swallow the Tramp whole. In contrast, there are softer, more hopeful moments, like when the Tramp imagines a modest, peaceful home. This balance keeps the film from feeling completely bleak and manages to highlight the hope that the Tramp never lets go of, no matter what life continuously throws at him.
If there’s a flaw, it’s that a few scenes run a little long. While the movie is just under 90 minutes, some parts feel like they could’ve been tightened up. Still, that isn’t enough to not recommend you watch this if you haven’t already seen it.
Modern Times is more than just a classic; it’s a thoughtful, surprisingly relevant look at the struggles of ordinary people trying to live in a system that often feels stacked against them. It’s as relevant in 2024 as it was in 1936.
Well, those are my thoughts on it, but what are yours?
If you’ve seen Modern Times (1936), let me hear your thoughts on it.
Drop a comment below or reach out to me over on Bluesky!
If you’re curious as to what else I’ve been watching, you can follow me over on Letterboxd.