Charlie Chaplin uses many film elements to convey the story’s message. In Modern Times, Chaplin makes the most of editing’s many advantages to link the film to important themes like Capitalism, Great Depression, Industrialization, etc. Chaplin’s editorial choices are evident when analyzing the transitions, such as cuts and fades, and stylistic elements like time and reaction shots.
Chaplin’s films are primarily told through cuts. In the scene of the factory, cuts can be seen between the control panel and the assembly-line, as in shot 1 and 2. The control room is constantly shown in the background of all scenes, including the one after that clip. The boss tells the man in charge to hurry up. Charlie is seen frantically trying his best to keep up. These cuts are designed to build anticipation among the audience. This pattern of cuts from the assembly lines to the control rooms creates an anticipation in the audience. They can predict that Charlie will be affected by the changes on the assembly lines.
Modern Times portrays a satirical view of life for the working man in the 1930s, as well as the impact that industrialization had on his daily routine. This allows for both a comic anticipation and an emphasis on machines having a lot of power over people. Charlie struggles to adjust to changes in the speed of an assembly line. He eventually begins to twitch or act robotically. These cuts are shown frequently between the controlee and the controller in this film. You can see this when you return to the bosses office and reveal the “Bellows Feeding Machine”. Charlie is an ordinary working class man, but the Boss makes decisions without him present. They decide to test it on Charlie. Modern Times uses cutaways to make the working classes appear as marionettes. The upper class and industrialization are revealed on another platform.
Modern Times is also edited in a “continuity fashion” as were most Hollywood classics of its era. This involves a “real time action” where shots are used to follow each other. The next shot in clip 2 shows Charlie leaving the assembly, beginning at the exact point where the previous one ended. In this way, the audience feels as though they are there with Charlie, seeing his actions in real time. Chaplin used the style to both avoid confusing audiences and also to make them feel what Charlie experiences. In this way, he brought them even closer to Charlie’s character. The audience is forced to walk in Charlie’s shoes by watching him endure a full day of antics. By doing so, the audience can better understand the struggles of working men and better understand their frustrations, stress, and anxiety during the Great Depression.
Reaction shots are used in conjunction with the continuity-style. The film will always include reaction shots because there is no better way to illustrate Charlie’s distinctive qualities than by contrasting him with other characters. They not only enhance the comedy (as shown when Charlie experiences a mental breakdown and the other workers are in a panic), they also serve to separate Charlie from the others, which is precisely what Chaplin intended to achieve with this movie. Charlie’s differences are evident from the very beginning. He struggles with industrialization as a mild-mannered worker. Charlie, however, is childish, buffoonish and naive. Chaplin conveys this effectively by using reactions shots.
First, we see the fade from shot one to two, then three and finally four in clip 1. The film starts off with a scene of a flock of sheep, which fades into an image of men working. This contrasts men with sheep who are herded by an oppressive system to work, forcing them to perform unappealing tasks to provide bread for their families. This message is reinforced by the use of the fade, which keeps the viewer’s attention on the central figures. By using the fade to connect two shots, it is more effective than using cuts that briefly take the viewer away. Fades can be used to fill in for the absence of a central character. This is because it’s the first part of the film and without the main character, the audience might get lost. Fades help to guide viewers from one focal point to another by taking them away from the main action. After the scene has been contextualized, Chaplin will use cuts to tell his story.
Modern Times is a film that uses many transitions and styles. It is up to each viewer to decide how to use these elements to communicate certain messages or create certain ties. Cuts may not be seen as a representation of power, but by others as a means to enhance the plot. Due to its historical context, these cuts were necessary for dividing the actors by class. Some might argue that this choice of continuity was not made consciously, based on the meaning and characteristics, but by accident, due to Hollywood’s popularity. Chaplin had a degree in production and, thanks to his work as a film producer, he was able to use his creativity and innovate his films beyond slapstick. Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times is a film that uses editorial choices to express certain themes. These include capitalism, industry, and class divisions as they were seen in the Great Depression.
