Toothbrush mustache

In the autumn of , when the Munich Agreement was being signed in Europe, Charles Chapin was putting the finishing touches to the first draft of a script written in the greatest secrecy. Rumour had it that the creator of the Tramp had decided to make his first talking film.

Moreover, it was said that he would be playing the part of a character inspired by Adolf Hitler.

Finally, after the long and painstaking process of revising and then directing, Chaplin presented The Great Dictator in New York on October 15th The historical circumstances in which he had found himself during those two years were quite extraordinary.

His native country, England, had declared war at the beginning of September , but the United States, where he had been living as a permanent resident – but British citizen – since , had resolved to keep out of the conflict that was to bathe the Old Continent in blood.

By waging war against Hitler via the silver screen, Chaplin was making a personal commitment and