Set to Johannes Brahms's Hungarian Dance No. 5, and said to have been performed and recorded continuously in one take, Charles Chaplin's barbershop scene from his 1940 film (and first "talkie") "The Great Dictator" is nothing short of a masterpiece.
The piece is half shaving ritual, half choreographed dance and with its share of musical references. At times it seems Chaplin is directing an orchestra, as when he shakes his hand to get rid of foam and water in keeping with the tempo of the song. The honing and stropping motions echo the playing of the violins. And as a funny gesture, note how he checks the edge of the razor by slicing one of his own hairs.
One of my favorite movie scenes of all times. And quite an efficient shave, save for the mustache, that got missed. And all for a very reasonable fifty cents.
2 comments:
What a great clip! Charlie Chaplin was nothing short of brilliant :o)
Now That was enjoyable.Especially if you had not seen it in a long time.
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