The Great Dictator

At the end of the World War

Tomainia weakened.

Revolution had broken out,

her diplomats sued for peace

while Tomainia's army fought on,

confident its war machine

would smash the enemy's lines.

Big Bertha, able to fire 100 miles,

was to make its appearance

on the Western Front,

and strike terror into the enemy.

75 miles away was her target:

the cathedral of Notre-Dame.

Range:
95,452.

Stand clear!

Fire!

Stand by your trigger!

Range correction: 95,455.

Breach secured.

Stand clear.

Ready... Fire!

Defective shell. We'll examine it.

Check the fuse.

Yes, the fuse.

Look out! Run!

What's that?

- Air raid.

- After Big Bertha.

The anti-aircraft gun!

To the gun!

Have you gone crazy?

Come down!

What do you think you're doing?

Have you gone crazy?

Sir, the enemy have broken through.

Every man to the front.

Muster the gun crew!

Get your hand grenades, soldiers.

Where's your hand grenade?

Give him one.

Keep moving. Come along, hurry up!

Pardon me, but to work this...

Pull the pin,

count to ten and throw it!

Let them have it!

This is no time to scratch.

Pull yourself together.

Take this.

Forward!

Fall in!

Hey you, come on!

Order arms!

Prepare to attack.

Forward!

There you are.

The enemy!

Come on, let's get him!

May I come in, sir?

- Who is it?

- Friend.

- What division?

- 21st artillery, sir.

Take this and keep firing.

I'll be back.

Comrade! Help!

What is it?

I'm exhausted.

Quick, help me to my plane.

Thank you. I'll see you get

the Tomainian Cross for this.

Only too willing to oblige, sir.

You saved my life. Thank you.

I'll strap you in.

I can't make it alone.

You'll have to stay with me.

Can you fly?

I can try.

Lift my hand to the stick.

I haven't the strength.

Take charge of that gun!

The enemy!

Quick, lift my hand to the throttle.

We'll fool 'em!

Hold on to these dispatches.

If we get them

to General Schmelloffel,

Tomainia may yet win.

I'm going to faint.

Don't say that.

Sorry.

Where am I?

Don't you know me?

Yes, I feel better now.

The blood's returning to my head.

What's below?

The sun?

Shining upwards.

Strange. How's the gas?

Kept me awake all night.

No, the gasoline in the tank!

Almost empty.

We must be nearly there.

What time is it?

Approximately one minute to twelve.

Strange.

We seem to be defying

the laws of gravity.

Water. Quick, I'm going to faint.

Wait a while.

We'll get into trouble

if you faint any more.

Just hold it.

I think I... Now...

Take it!

Something's wrong.

I can't reach it.

It's all gone.

What's the matter?

Belt too tight.

Loosen it.

I'm trying to!

We're upside down.

I know it!

The stick!

Impossible.

There it goes. We're out of gas.

Well, I suppose this is the end.

Cigarette?

Not now!

I shan't need this any more.

What month is it?

April. Spring in Tomainia.

Hilda will be in the garden,

tending the daffodils.

How she loves daffodils!

She'd never cut them

for fear of hurting them.

It was like taking a life

to cut a daffodil.

Sweet, gentle Hilda.

A beautiful soul.

She loved animals,

and little children, too.

We've landed! Dispatches!

Comrade, where are you?

The dispatches... Where are they?

- Are you hurt?

- Take me to General Schmelloffel.

If we don't deliver these,

we're defeated.

- The war's over.

- What?

We lost.

Hynkel takes power.

The Jewish soldier

suffered a loss of memory

and remained in hospital for years,

ignorant of the change in Tomainia.

Hynkel ruled the nation

with an iron fist.

Under the double-cross emblem

liberty was banished.

Only the voice of Hynkel was heard.

Adenoid Hynkel said,

"Tomainia was down

but today has risen."

"Democracy is fragrant."

"Liberty is odious."

"Freedom of speech

is objectionable."

"Tomainia has the greatest army."

"The greatest navy."

"But to remain great

we must sacrifice."

"We must tighten our belts."

He now speaks to Field Marshal

Herring, Minister of War.

Now Herr Garbitsch,

Minister of the Interior.

He remembers his early struggles,

shared by his two loyal comrades.

A reference to the Jewish people.

The Phooey remarks

that for the world

he has peace in his heart.

We now pause

for station identification.

This is the Pari-Mutual network,

bringing you

Hynkel's address to the children

of the double-cross.

The interpreter

is Hynkel's personal translator,

reading from a prepared manuscript.

Stand by for further commentary.

Go ahead, Tomainia.

His Excellency

is about to descend the stairs.

Your Excellency, are you hurt?

Ride in the other car.

His Excellency

seems pleased as he is greeted

by Tomainian children.

He pauses before a woman

with a child.

Camera!

Even the baby is thrilled

and seems all smiles

at the attention.

His Excellency leaves the scene

and will return

along Hynkelstrasse,

where he'll pass Tomainia's

modern masterpieces:

the Venus of Today

and the Thinker of Tomorrow.

- How was it?

- The speech?

Very good.

Your reference to the Jews

might have been more violent.

What?

To arouse the people's anger.

Violence against the Jews might make

the people forget their stomach.

You're right. Things have been quiet

in the ghetto lately.

Good morning, Mr. Jaeckel.

What's good about it?

Conditions could be worse.

If you think so,

you have a great imagination.

You heard Hynkel's speech.

I heard nothing.

I've got my own troubles.

You're better off

than a lot of people.

What about the barber?

Still in hospital.

He's been there since the war.

Why not rent

his barbershop for him?

He won't let me. Every few weeks

he writes to say he's coming back.

A pity it should be idle

all these years.

Why worry?

The government

will soon take it from him.

Perhaps you're right.

Not such a good morning after all.

Now you said it.

Hannah.

On the mantelpiece is my tobacco

pouch. Will you get it?

Everyone is full of troubles.

Yeah, everyone.

Look at Hannah, poor girl.

A hard worker, can't get a job.

Father was killed in the war,

mother died last year.

Can't earn enough to pay her rent.

What can I do?

I can't throw her out.

You need some more.

- Where are you going?

- Mrs. Shoemaker's laundry.

You'd better take the key.

Mrs. Jaeckel and I are going out.

I'm locking up

in case the storm troopers

start their monkey business again.

Aryan! We're Aryans!

And we go marching by!

Look, fellows!

Tomatoes and potatoes.

I'll take a box home.

Hey, the lorry.

Hold it there, will you?

You have no right!

Just charge it to my account!

Nice ripe tomatoes.

Why don't some of you

do something?

If I were a man I'd show you.

What would you do, pretty?

Not one of you has the guts

to stand up alone and fight!

Is the lorry

in case someone hits back?

Shut up!

Come and take me.

You'll get medals for it.

You pick on women

and rob defenceless people.

Don't rob the poor girl, boys.

Give her back her tomatoes.

I'll have to do it again.

Pigs!

- Patient 33!

- Yes, sir.

An interesting case: amnesia.

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