As we prepare for World War II, we look at the life of Charlie Chaplin and discuss his lampooning of Adolf Hitler in The Great Dictator.

Based on John Steinbeck’s novel of Oklahoma farmers moving to California during the Great Depression.

A bit too Hollywood, but this film gives a good look at the career of James Braddock and the Great Depression.

An almost-entirely fictionalized account of Elliot Ness and his quest to bring down Al Capone.

We use these fictional stories to highlight Hollywood’s transition from the Silent Era to Talkies. The Jazz Singer (1927) comes up as well.