Modern Times 1936

Erik Lundegaard, Seattle Times: Good physical comedy will always be funny, and Chaplin was a master. Read more

Frank S. Nugent, New York Times: Do you have to be reminded that Chaplin is a master of pantomime? Time has not changed his genius. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: The opening sequence in Chaplin's second Depression masterpiece, of the Tramp on the assembly line, is possibly his greatest slapstick encounter with the 20th century. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: It's the coldest of [Chaplin's] major features, though no less brilliant for it. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Chaplin's sentimental politics and peerless comic invention dovetailed more perfectly in this film than in any other he made. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: The mechanical feeding sequence in Modern Times is probably the funniest routine in cinema history. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: One of the many remarkable things about Charlie Chaplin is that his films continue to hold up, to attract and delight audiences. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Modern Times is an ungainly masterpiece, but Chaplin's ungainliness is something one can grow fond of. Read more

TIME Magazine: It is a gay, impudent and sentimental pantomimic comedy in which even the anachronisms are often as becoming as Charlie Chaplin's cane. Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: Chaplin's political and philosophical naivety now seems as remarkable as his gift for pantomime. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: The picture is grand fun and sound entertainment, though silent. It's the old Chaplin at his best, looking at his best -- young, pathetic and a very funny guy. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: Remains Chaplin's most sustained burlesque of authority. Read more