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"The Little Dictator" was a play on the title of Chaplin's "The Great Dictator," and the favorite episode of series creator Sherwood Schwartz. For critics who dismiss the show as too simple minded to have something to say this proves to be a real eye opener, with Nehemiah Persoff in the title role of Pancho Hernando Gonzales Enriques Rodriguez, El Presidente of the South American Republic of Ecuarico, exiled to a life of solitude on Gilligan's island after his regime has been overthrown. As Schwartz delights to say in his audio commentary, a dictator only knows how to dictate, and with the use of his pistol he takes over control of the castaways as their new President. They try to get him to empty his gun of bullets, and once that succeeds Rodriguez naturally assumes that he is due to be executed, unable to conceive living the life of a commoner. His offer of power and glory to Gilligan leads into one of the most inventive dream sequences, Gilligan as El Presidente, Rodriguez his right hand man, quick to shoot down every rumor that crosses the leader's desk. It's jarring yet appropriate to see Rodriguez eliminating all of the President's problems with bullets, revealing Gilligan to be nothing but a 'puppet ruler,' complete with strings. Schwartz only errs in regard to Persoff never having done comedy before or since, as he played Little Bonaparte in "Some Like It Hot," going on to many different shows like BARNEY MILLER, in which he played a Hasidic Jew. As El Presidente he's a constant delight, just serious enough without losing the comic flair, and his reaction when he first sees the women is priceless: "ah, chihuahua!"

Defnitely a reference to Charlie Chaplin's classic, THE GREAT DICTATOR. This is outrageous, and credit the over the top acting of Nahemiah Persoff, a master of dialects, enormously popular in both tv and movies. It's also a tribute to the actor, who passed at the age of 102 in 2022.

Persoff plays exiled dicator Pancho Rodriguez (he even has a longer name...) former president of a small South American country (Ecuarico) that has been taken over by another power. His new life is on the island -- and right way -- Pancho declares himself dictator and chief and everything else.

Best of it is the imaginary dream sequence, and with all the frills. Gilligan is the leader of some backwards country, at odds with gun-toting Pancho. The sets and costumes are amazing. This had to be the most elaborate of all episodes. Creative writing to the max; check out the hilarious scene where Pancho strings Gilligan up as his own puppet. The skipper as the dopey assistant (with a silly hat) is a hoot. CANNOT miss Ginger as a special secret agent, wearing a leopard skin designer bikini? A certified classic, credited to director Jack Arnold, as usual.

Without giving too much away, Pancho leaves the island as quickly as he arrived -- and why can't the castaways do the same thing? The eternal question that has bugged all us true fans for years. The ending with the radio news bulletin about Pancho is a blast.

10 Stars. All the way. SEASON 2 EPISODE 3 remastered color dvd box sets; 3 dvd set 2005, 6 dvd set 2012.