The Great Dictator
1940 Nominee

100 Words
The great in this context is pronounced the same way as it is when it precedes that of Gatsby – sarcastically. Isn’t it strange how true this rings now? Hynkel resembles a barber and the rest is history. The comedian whose mustache inspired a dictator makes fun of the dictator in a smart, substantial way. How ironic that the comedian later left the country following accusations of Communism. Did we learn nothing?

Of course, there are other leaders and more comedians now than there were at the time, but the idea rings louder than it did then: Laughter kills the monster.