Charlie Chaplin got a bad rap here in the U.S. Provocative and unruly, he cast Americans in the role of Nazi-like storm troopers, in one of the most penetrating films of history, The Great Dictator.

The film follows the rise to power of a machine-like man who looks similar to Hitler and acts similar to Hitler. Chaplin, of course, remembers humor cures, and he uses it effectively. His acting is priceless and unmatched.

At the end of the film, we understand Chaplin has juxtaposed actual history with the fantastic. We shouldn't help asking, "What if Hitler (and the so many other warmongers) had put an equal amount of effort, intellect and soul into exposing truth and beauty instead of abomination?"

In the dictator's final speech, he has come to understand his wrongdoings: "Do away with national barriers, do away with greed...(and)...fight for a new world, a decent world."

Eventually we realize the other character, a na