The Great Dictator two-page discussion of the relationship between the barber and The Tramp appears in Eric L. Flom's book "Chaplin in the Sound Era: An Analysis of the Seven Talkies." He concludes: The film was nominated for five Academy Awards: Chaplin's half-brother Sydney directed and starred in a 1921 film called "King, Queen, Joker" in which, like Chaplin, he played the dual role of a barber and ruler of a country which is about to be overthrown. More than twenty years later, in 1947, Charles Chaplin was sued over alleged plagiarism with "The Great Dictator". Yet, apparently, neither the suing party nor
Roman dictator doubt the authenticity of these "dictator years". Initially a dictator's power was not subject to either "provocatio", the right to appeal from the decision of a magistrate, or "intercessio", the veto of the tribunes of the plebs. However, the "lex Valeria", establishing the right of appeal, was not abrogated by the appointment of a dictator, and by 300 BC even the dictator was subject to "provocatio", at least within the city of Rome. There is also evidence that the power of the plebeian tribunes was not vitiated by the dictator's commands, and 210 BC, the tribunes threatened to prevent elections