The Great Dictator [he] was terrified, not knowing what to expect next." The Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in Beverly Hills, California, has a copy of "The Great Dictator" script. The library permits viewers of the script to read it and take notes, but prohibits photocopying of it. In 1997, "The Great Dictator" was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". In 2000, the American Film Institute ranked the film No. 37 in its "100 Years... 100 Laughs" list. The film
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