did anyone notice that it probably hinted at reality TV? in 1957! amazing...
i have a few chaplin DVDs in my collection, the usual suspects such as modern times, the great dictator and gold rush, but i was surprised i missed this one all these years. to think i only bought it last week from a bargain bin!
I just caught it on TV and really enjoyed the majority of it. THe first half was definitely funnier but still a good Chaplin movie. Those are the only you have? If you feel like revisiting try The Circus, Limelight and The Kid.
"Have you ever danced with a refrigerator?"
im sorry this is off topic-
but you should really see City Lights. If you liked this movie you may enjoy Monsieur Verdeux which is one of my all time favorites.
"One murder makes a villain; millions a hero. Numbers sanctify."~Monsieur Verdoux
Good point. It did hint at "reality TV", and in fact I am always concerned about a "1984", where people are constantly on camera. I think that Chaplin was trying to hint upon how commercialism was sapping away America's very freedom and right to individuality.
shareYes, I agree, too! This is a wonderful film - not great like his earlier features but almost great. It has some great moments, certainly. Chaplin's performance is wonderful, as usual, and so is his son, Michael's performance in this film. Definitely a prophetic work. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
shareI thought the same thing! Even the whole plastic surgery thing is ahead of its time in many ways.
I hope that this film and Monsieur Verdoux find new life in this new century. Chaplin was a cultural and political prophet with this film, Verdoux and The Great Dictator. Many part of those three films are more relevant today than they were at the time.
Way ahead of its time !
So many precognitions combined with his sarcastic humour (e.g.the 'american movies'). Every minute a laugh, i personally think its one of the underrated movies ever with true messages between the lines. 9/10
You're right, and I'm with you in that concern. Seriously, some things just need to be left private. Reality TV is a social hazard people, stop your mindless addiction while you can. Watch a Chaplin film instead...
shareU r right. 50 years later and the message of this movie is as relevant as when it was premiered (Which I don't think it's a good sign).
Chaplin was a brilliant man who forsaw many of the problems that affects today's world. Everything is in "A King in New York", from the stupid world of consumerism, to cinema (at least Hollywood movies) transformed into mere escapism without any humanist message to offer.
If Chaplin would have added some scenes depicting xenophobia, racism, and religious fanatism, he would have depicted perfectly the current "new brave world".
What a genius was Mr. Chaplin. He didn't deserve to be treated like a criminal by the facist-like government of that time.
I saw this film as a child in Australia in the late 1950s. The film was derided by right wing journalists who probably did not watch it.
I can remember the part where he had plastic surgery on his nose and ruined it by drinking through a straw. You would have to watch it to see what I meant about it being funny.