100 Movies Every Catholic Should See #94: Modern Times (1936)

Directed by Charlie Chaplin. Starring Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.

Part of our goal here at 100 Movies Every Catholic Should See is to help Catholics gain an appreciation of the history and great works of the cinematic art form. And no such project would be complete without at least one film from the great Charlie Chaplin. Chaplin was a true pioneer of cinema, bringing wit and artistry into his films at a very early stage of the motion picture. He was an incredibly talented comedian and a gifted performer, but he paired hilarious physical comedy with an artist’s eye for imagery and an exceptional story-telling ability. His films have a remarkable ability to create relatable comedic situations out of the life of the common man, resulting in jokes (often slapstick) that still retain their comedic force. Indeed, Chaplin’s film seem to have a timeless, universal quality that belies their early twentieth century settings. His most famous character, the Tramp, became a cinematic icon precisely because of his status as an everyman, a lovable idiot whose optimistic approach to life, even in the face of constant humiliation, was both relatable and inspiring to his audience.

Modern Times is the last and, arguably, the greatest of Chaplin’s Tramp films. It is consistently rated among Chaplin’s best films and even merited inclusion on the Vatican’s 1995 film list. That inclusion made me think about what makes this film in particular of interest to Catholics. All of the Chaplin films I’ve seen are, first and foremost, hilarious, but also allude to more universal themes of the dignity of human life and truth, goodness, and beauty. Modern Times, however, crystalizes some of the themes in Chaplin’s filmography and brings them together in one magnificent package, one which jives well with Catholic social doctrine while creating some stunning and enduring images and leaving us with lots of laughs.