Chaplin was a poet heart,hes movies always will be inspiration for several
Modern Times
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Families will cherish Chaplin's silent slapstick.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Modern Times was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this is a silent movie. Children will adore the slapstick in this movie, especially the scenes where Chaplin tries out the feeding machine and when he experiments with roller skates at the department store. Adults may need to read the title cards to younger children and help them follow the story.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the Depression and the concerns about the dehumanizing effect of technology that are a part of this movie. Why did the boss want Chaplin to try the eating machine? What would Frank Gilbreth of "Cheaper By the Dozen" think of the machine? Why did Chaplin want to go back to jail? Why didn't Goddard want to go to jail? Did Chaplin want you to think that prison was like the factory? Better? How can you tell? How did Chaplin and Goddard differ in their reactions to their troubles? High school kids: Why was Chaplin arrested for leading the communist parade? Does that violate the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment?
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More on Modern Times
What’s the Story?
MODERN TIMES is about two people struggling with the isolation of the industrial era. Charlie Chaplin (simply called "A worker" in the credits) is an assembly line worker who loses his job after a work accident. Sonn he finds himself leading a communist parade while just trying to return a red flag to a man who dropped it, and is sent to prison. When he comes upon an attempted escape, Chaplin captures the prisoners and releases the guards, and is pardoned because of his heroism. Chaplin soon is determined to go back to jail, and finds his chance when he sees a poor girl (Paulette Goddard) stealing bread, and confesses that it was he who stole it. But a witness identifies Goddard. After a series of missteps and trips through jail, Chaplin and Goddard eventually walk off into the sunset together.
Is It Any Good?
Viewers have to remind themselves how prescient this movie was. To us, it may not be surprising that the boss watches the workers on screen, but this was before the invention of television -- and more than a decade before the publication of Orwell's 1984. Interestingly, it was several years after the invention of the talkies. But Chaplin wanted to make a silent movie, and silent this one is, except for a few words, some sound effects, and a gibberish song.
Children will adore the slapstick in this movie, especially the scenes where Chaplin tries out the feeding machine and when he experiments with roller skates at the department store.
Movie Details
Studio: No Studio, Director: Charlie Chaplin
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: 2/5/1936, DVD release: 3/14/2000
MPAA Rating: NR
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: 2/5/1936, DVD release: 3/14/2000
MPAA Rating: NR
Our Members Say
See all 4 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
perfect for anyone
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Chaplin always has a good heart and it shows through in his movies.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
This is wonderful and hilarious! Charlie Chaplin, 1, Jim Carrey, 0!
I love this film. One of the greates and funniest and most kid-friendly movies of all time. There's just on problem- getting your kid to watch it because this movie is in black and whit which is frowned upon in modern-day american kids usually. But once they start watching it, they will never stop laughing. Forget Jim Carrey and Tim Allen and all those clowns. Go for Charlie Chaplin and The Marx Brothers and all those guys. They are hilarious. Nothing offensive here at all, just a scene of thwarted prison break, and some gun shooting, oh yes and there's this one time where Charlie accidentally and without knowing it ingests some cocaine, or nose powder. But its wonderful. Force your kids to watch it, if needed. It is hilarious and wonderful entertainment.
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