Wednesday 5 October 2011

The Greatest Speech Ever Made

Charlie Chaplin's final speech in "The Great Dictator".

What makes this even more amazing is the fact that this is Charlie Chaplin, a comedian. He wrote this movie. And within the comedy there is this message, a man's powerful message. He drops the comedy for a few minutes to spill this.

The passion he has is just amazing.

2:05 "Machine men, with machine minds, and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are MEN." I love how he says that.

"Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness"......


"Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening."
~~ Dorothy Sarnoff




12 comments:

Cameron said...

I have never heard Charlie Chaplin's voice before....let alone delivering a speech such as this...

If only he could see how all that he speaks of has intensified over the years. The bad and the good...

miruspeg said...

Cameron, apparently this was Chaplins first talking picture, released in 1940, a year before the USA entered World War II.

The film was seen as an act of courage in the political environment of the time, both for its ridicule of Nazism, for the portrayal of overt Jewish characters, and the depiction of their persecution.

I'm going to get a copy of the film on DVD as I am sure it will be very interesting/entertaining.

A Daft Scots Lass said...

I had also never heard him speak until I watched this.

Thx for the lesson!!! and for sharing.

McMGrad89 said...

Wow!

Christine said...

Charlie Chaplin wrote this? Wonderful impassioned speech, I'll have to share, thanks Peggy.

Anonymous said...

How brilliant and so relevant for today. I like the collection of images chosen to illustrate his words.

We are living in interesting times - perhaps, as Chaplin says it is "the passing of greed".

Greed has had its day – it doesn't work, it doesn't make us happy. Could it be that we come through the current financial and environmental crises with a new perspective?

miruspeg said...

Gillian - I hadn't heard his speaking voice either! And he certainly spoke a lot of sense too!

Annemarie - Yes Wow is an excellent way to describe this speech! :-)

Christine - Yes Charlie Chaplin wrote, produced, directed as starred as the lead in the film The Great Dictator. He was a genius for sure!
One of my new blog friends Jeff had it on his blog so I thought I would share it as well....hope you do too! :-)

Stoneweaver - I am so pleased you were captivated by his speech too.
And what a wonderful concept that greed has had it's day and doesn't work.....
I wish everyone could see this and take these words to heart, especially those who govern.
Powerful words written by a brilliant actor.
"The soul of man has been given wings, and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow, into the light of hope, into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up."

Unknown said...

I love this...I am posting it on my FB because we are having a provincial election today. How fitting!

Cinderella said...

Much of what he said was wise.

Mike Smith said...

Hear, hear!

Jeff said...

Keep sharing it everyone! I like your text of intro'd for this clip.

miruspeg said...

Shannon - I love it too and I am going to post it on FB and Google+

Cinderella - I feel the WHOLE speech is very wise. Here are some more of his words.
"You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure."

Mike - Good, good! Would you like to repost it on FB or your blog?

Jeff - I certainly hope the video is spread around cyberspace like wildfire. Thanks for starting the ball rolling! :-)