In spite of the lack of speech in Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times", the socialist message that Chaplin portrays is difficult to ignore. The "Little Tramp" regularly visits prison and the unemployment lines, which puts a humorous spin on some otherwise very real difficulties of the Great Depression. The soundtrack and over-acting can, at times, be a little much (the film requires an active interest, not the kind you can just play in the background), for modern film enthusiasts, but Chaplin's solid directing and slapstick humour reinforces the wide-ranging and universal appeal of his undeniably classic film.