Modern Times Trivia Quiz

Answer: A factory worker

Though he plays his usual 'Tramp' character in the film, Charlie Chaplin's character is simply called 'a factory worker' in the credits. This would be the last appearance of his Tramp caricature.

Answer: True

Indeed, this was Chaplin's first 'talkie', though the voices the viewer hears are very selective. The only voices that can be discerned are emitted from machinery, for example the radio or on intercom systems. Chaplin's voice can also be heard late in the film, but only in singing form (and the words to his song are gibberish).

Answer: Corn

The automated feeding machine seemingly overheats while the Chaplin character is eating corn. Later, the machine dumps soup on the poor fellow, along with feeding him metal nuts and pushing a pie into his face. The chief of the factory condemns the feeding machine as 'impractical'.

Two other classic scenes from the film show characters literally getting caught up in the wheels of industrialization, practically consumed by threatening mechanical leviathons.

Answer: Flag

What appears to be a red flag falls off the end of a truck. The Chaplin character innocently picks up the flag and attempts to signal the truck driver. From behind, a labor march catches up with the poor fellow, and he appears to lead the march with his coincidental actions and gestures.

Answer: Paulette Goddard

Paulette Goddard had a long-term relationship with Chaplin, and also co-starred in two of his films, namely 'Modern Times' and 'The Great Dictator'. Goddard also made an uncredited brief appearance in 'City Lights'.

The word 'gamin' (or, better yet, 'gamine') means 'a mischievous but charming young woman'.

Answer: Bananas

The intrepid Gamin appears to be carefree as she steals a number of bananas off of a boat. She gives some to a small group of desperate children and takes the rest home for herself and her family.

Answer: He is pardoned for good behavior

While enjoying (yes, enjoying) his first stay in jail, the Chaplin character foils a prison breakout by his fellow prisoners. This merits the good chap a pardon from the governor, and he finds himself, regrettably, back on the dangerous city streets.

Answer: A loaf of bread

The Gamin steals a loaf of bread in order to feed herself and her family. The Chaplin character takes the blame for stealing the bread, but both are eventually arrested and taken away by the police. Ultimately, only Chaplin is forced to serve time.

Answer: Cab driver

After being released from jail the first time, Chaplin works at the shipyards but accidentally releases an unfinished ship into the water. Later, the Chaplin character serves as a night watchman, but fails to foil a robbery there. His final job during the film is as a waiter and singer at a restaurant.

He loses this job while saving the Gamin from some juvenile officers who are attempting to put her in an orphanage.

Answer: Vagrancy

The juvenile officers who attempt to nab the Gamin at the cafe, have a warrant listing the girl as being wanted for 'vagrancy'. Fortunately, the Chaplin character helps her escape the youth officers and the two of them leave town in search of a better life.

Thank you for playing this quiz, I hope you have enjoyed it.