Charlie Chaplain wrote, directed, and starred in this movie, which may be his magnum opus. It is not only about the struggle of people trying to survive the Great Depression but also about the relationship between mankind and technology, about women in society, and so on. Today (2013, 77 years later) I see small children using iPhones and navigating the internet before they can read a book, and using a mouse and keyboard more intuitively than a bike. I can only imagine what the next generation will see. However, we sometimes forget that it wasn't always this way. Mankind has had to grow into technology and integrate it into our lives, or our lives into it, defining and redefining, constantly, the role it plays in our everyday lives. There are some poignant moments in the film where Charlie Chaplan's character encounters new technologies, and we see how he is at odds with the invasion of his natural, physical behavior. Man's oldest defining qualities come into question in modern times when machine's threaten to perform his labor and replace him in the work force, and even feed him.
It is also worth noticing the character played by Paulette Goddard. In modern times, the role of women has changed, something else that we sometimes forget. In the beginning, her father is unable to support the family, so she takes matters into her own hands and behaves unlady-like in order to feed them. Later, Charlie Chaplan is unable to find work, but she gets a job. Joining the workforce, she achieves what was hitherto thought of as a man's role in society.
The plain truth is that this movie has so much to offer that I could go on and on, seemingly without end. Instead, you should watch it for yourself and enjoy. The way that he treats severe and deep subject matter with respect, while immersing them in comic relief, is something that very few comedians/entertainers have the skill to do. It reminds me of Cervantes' Don Quixote.
Summary from IMDb:
The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman.
IMDb
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