Charlie Chaplin physical resemblance that supplied the plot for Chaplin's next film, "The Great Dictator", which directly satirised Hitler and attacked fascism. Chaplin spent two years developing the script, and began filming in September 1939 – six days after Britain declared war on Germany. He had submitted to using spoken dialogue, partly out of acceptance that he had no other choice, but also because he recognised it as a better method for delivering a political message. Making a comedy about Hitler was seen as highly controversial, but Chaplin's financial independence allowed him to take the risk. "I was determined to go ahead,"
Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin Gleiberman writing a positive review for "Entertainment Weekly" said that "The nature of silent comedy was to elevate its heroes into myths, but after "Charlie" I can't wait to see Chaplin's movies again, this time to glimpse the man on the other side of the icon." David Stratton of "Variety" described the film that it is "A thoroughly researched and extremely informative survey of the life and work of one of the great figures of world cinema, Richard Schickel's "Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin" is a must for lovers of cinema." Charlie: The Life and Art of