Dictators in Film

• Given that the tyrannous Saddam Hussein was captured by the Americans at the beginning of December, 2003, it seemed timely for Moving Images to tackle another bizarre subject: Dictators in Film. There have been many examples of films that have tackled this complex subject -- either seriously, satirically or comically. Geoff and Peter spoke of the first, most controversial example: Leni Riefenstahl's glorifying documentary "Triumph of the Will." Ms. Riefenstahl made this film at the Neurenberg rally in 1934 as a celebration of Hitler's efforts in pre-World War II Germany. After the Holocaust, she was cleansed of her Nazi affiliation, but somehow the controversy of "Triumph's" propaganda followed her until her death at 101, in September, 2003. Peter spoke glowingly of Woody Allen's hysterically funny dictator satire "Bananas," while Geoff raved about Charlie Chaplin's magnificent "The Great Dictator" (the director's first talkie!). No show about dictators in film would be complete without a discussion about "Hot Shots!" or "Hot Shots, Part Deux!" These two efforts by director Jim Abrahams (one of the three zany fellows who brought you "Airplane!" and "Top Secret!") take deliberate potshots at Saddam Hussein himself. "Hot Shots!" does it best, in Peter's opinion, when Charlie Sheen's pilot Topper Harley drops a bomb on Hussein who happens to be relaxing by his pool with a martini. Harley's gloating words get the biggest laugh from the audience: "Sayanara Saddam" as Hussein literally catches the bomb before it explodes. American jingoism just doesn't get any funnier than that!