“Modern Times” is still viewed as a comedic masterpiece after all these years and that’s a testament to the brilliant Charlie Chaplin (“City Lights”, “The Kid”). The man knew his craft better than anybody and impressively managed to carry on doing his thing despite “Modern Times” being released several years after sound had revolutionised filmmaking.

The Tramp (Chaplin) loses his job at a factory and finds himself in a seemingly endless struggle to find work. Living on the street, he finds new meaning in his life when he befriends a young homeless woman (Paulette Goddard “The Women”). The two are determined to do whatever it takes to fulfil their dream of finding a home together.

Chaplin was incredibly weary of sound. He knew that the Tramp appealed to audiences across the globe precisely because he did not need to speak. In this movie, we do hear the Tramp but he only sings nonsensically. The scene where Chaplin roller-skates while blindfolded is truly iconic. There are so many other great moments with him just doing what he does best that I’m afraid that I cannot name them all. Paulette Goddard is good as the young woman that the Tramp finds himself falling for.

“Modern Times” has sequences showing automation and industrialisation that rival shots in “Metropolis”. It’s interesting that so much of the movie deals with technology because the Tramp’s struggles to extent mirror Chaplin’s own concerns and frustrations with the advances behind the camera. I think I prefer some of his other work such as “City Lights” but it does not really matter, “Modern Times” is another excellent film from Chaplin. The choreography, the wondrous contraptions and the emotive scenes of the Tramp and the young woman will stick with you. You simply have to see “Modern Times” because you should never miss an opportunity to see a Chaplin slapstick classic.