panicbeats:

The Great Dictator (1940) was nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Chaplin), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Oakie), Best Original Screenplay (Chaplin) & Best Original Score (Meredith Willson).

Chaplin was against awards in general. When the New York Film Critics voted him Best Actor for The Great Dictator, he declined the award stating that he did not believe actors should compete against one another and questioned the “process of electioneering” that is “far afield from sound critical appraisal”. He was also allegedly hurt that only his work as an actor had been deemed memorable. According to his son Sydney, he sent back one award he had won with a note that said, “I don’t think you are qualified to judge my work”.

Tell ‘em, Charlie!

(Source: chaplininpictures)