United States 1936Language:SilentDirector:Charlie ChaplinWriter:Charlie ChaplinCinematographer:Roland Totheroh, Ira MorganEditor:Charlie ChaplinMusic:Charlie ChaplinWith:Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Tiny Standford, Chester Conklin, Henry BergmanProducer:Charlie Chaplin87 min, Black and white

Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" (1936), the last film of the great silent film era, satirically deals with the problems and consequences of industrialisation. The Tramp – here in his last film appearance – hires himself out as a worker in a factory, but ends up in an asylum after a breakdown. Barely released, he is falsely arrested as a communist leader. But his great love is waiting for him ...

The complex and innovative music for the film represents the culmination of composer Chaplin's work. He uses the leitmotif technique, employs musical quotations and incorporates jazz and dance music into the symphonic music. In addition to composer and conductor Alfred Newman, Chaplin was assisted by arrangers Edward Powell and David Raksin. The world-famous song "Smile" – initially composed without lyrics – is heard in the final scene of the film, when Chaplin's Tramp and his companion optimistically walk down a street towards a hard future.

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