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Parents' Guide to

Modern Times

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Families will cherish Chaplin's silent slapstick.

Movie NR 1936 103 minutes
Modern Times Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 7+

Based on 12 parent reviews

ahmed aiman 99
ahmed aiman 99 Adult
April 27, 2019
age 5+

Not one of the funniest Chaplin, but easily one of his most engaging!

At first glance, Modern Times seems to be a mere Sketch comedy; but in fact, it has a surprisingly cohesive story that is as politically insightful as it's constantly intriguing. The sight gags and the slapstick sequences pale in comparison to those you find in most Chaplin's other films. though. They are quite repetitive and overlong. The romance theme is simply amazing, due in large part to Paulette Goddard's charming and impressive performance. (8/10)

This title has:

Great messages
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
June 8, 2022
age 6+

Chaplin as the cog!

The parts that are good are brilliant. The parts that are not as good are better than average. I did not give it five stars because I found the vignette style of the film difficult to follow, but the 4 stars does in no way reflect negatively on the performance and the brilliance of Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard. Chaplin as part of the cogs of the machine are iconic and lasting because they still resonate as workers are swallowed up by their jobs. Chaplin's film may be devoid of overt political propaganda, but he definitely was creating within a complicated political time in US history. "Modern Times" indeed.
See all 12 parent reviews

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. Soon 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?

Our review:
Parents say (12 ):
Kids say (11 ):

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.

Viewers have to remind themselves how prescient Modern Times 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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Depression and the concerns about the dehumanizing effect of technology that are a part of Modern Times. 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?

  • In what way is a silent film different from a "talkie" -- besides the fact that it's silent?

  • How doe the characters in Modern Times demonstrate integrity and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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