Charlie Chaplin is famous for many reasons. As a silent actor, he pioneered physical comedy in classics such as The Circus and City Lights and when he transitioned to using sound elements after 1936’s Modern Times, people were amazed by his command over the English language, leading to perhaps his most iconic performance coming with his climactic monologue in The Great Dictator. However, there was an event that not only could have prevented the second half of his career in non-silent films but was also designed to act as a catalyst for a war that would have altered the geopolitical landscape of the early 20th century. This was known as the May 15th Incident, when Japanese ultranationalists attempted to assassinate Chaplin along with a host of other Japanese politicians to restore the emperor’s power in an increasingly democratic Japan. The event not only reflects how the world was changing at this point in history, but also just how influential and popular Chaplin was that people believed his death could spark outrage enough to go to war.
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