The Great Dictator The Great Dictator The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire comedy-drama film written, directed, produced, scored by and starring British comedian Charlie Chaplin, following the tradition of many of his other films. Having been the only Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, this was Chaplin's first true sound film. Chaplin's film advanced a stirring, controversial condemnation of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, fascism, antisemitism, and the Nazis. At the time of its first release, the United States was still formally at peace with Nazi Germany. Chaplin plays both leading roles:
Clara Louise Burnham Clara Louise Burnham Clara Louise Burnham (May 25, 1854 – June 20, 1927) was an American novelist. After the success of "No Gentlemen" (1881), other books followed, including "A Sane Lunatic" (1882), "Dearly Bought" (1884), "Next Door" (1886), "Young Maids and Old" (1888), "The Mistress of Beech Knoll" (1890), and "Miss Bagg's Secretary" (1892). The daughter of George Frederick Root, she wrote the text for several his most successful cantatas. The 1923 film, "A Chapter in Her Life" is based on Burnham's 1903 novel "Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life". Born in Massachusetts, she died at the family home in