Six out of the last ten best actor winners at the Oscars received recognition for performances based on real people. So did half of the last ten best actress winners. Why?

Come on, admit it. When Colin Firth did his bit at the end of The King’s Speech, you were a wibbling ruddy wreck. But slowly and surely, you began to ease up, becoming galvanized with hope and a swelling of pride. Before you knew it, you were standing up in the aisles, hand on chest, flapping your miniature Union Jack about and chanting “Gawd save the King!” Don’t deny it, we saw you.

Here are some more excellent uses of music in film.

Peppered with some ingenious skits (the upside down plane, and that balletic globe moment), what really makes The Great Dictator is two stunning speeches, both performed by Charlie Chaplin.