Modern Times - Function of Sound

As a viewer I saw sound functioning in a variety of ways in Chaplin’s Modern Times. A lack of dialogue caused me to automatically focus in on the music that accompanied each scene. For example, scenes of Chaplin working on the assembly line were accompanied with music that changed tempo depending on how fast Chaplin was moving. When he would get distracted and suddenly get behind on tightening bolts and would have to rush to catch up the music indicated this frantic with an increase in tempo. Another way I saw sound functioning in the film was when the factory boss appeared on the big screens to order the factory workers around. Dialogue in any form was extremely limited in the film, therefore when the factory boss does talk it is very significant to the film and illustrates the power that the boss possesses. The viewer’s understanding of the bosses significance and power is largely due to the fact that he has a speaking part in the film. This is something that can only be achieved with silent films because dialogue is more present in “talkies” and therefore does not hold the same significance that we see it having in Modern Times. I also noticed the use of sound when Chaplin was strapped into the feeding machine. As Chaplin was machine fed corn on the cob there was sound effect that was added into the scene for dramatic effect. Perhaps the most interesting function of sound is realized in one of the final scenes of the film in which Chaplin sings at the club. In the scene Chaplin opens his mouth and sings nothing but gibberish. This use of sound is significant because it is Chaplin’s way of mocking sound films, which were becoming increasingly popular around the time this film was released. Overall I think Modern Times is incredibly successful as a silent film. The comedy is simply enough that it does not have to rely on the use of dialogue to tell the story; instead Chaplin uses exaggerated gestures and facial expressions to successfully translate his story to an audience.