Charlie Chaplin takes on the 1950s in his typically zany but witty way as King Shahdov of Estrovia, who flees to New York after being overthrown by revolutionaries. By pure chance, the destitute ex-king lands a job in television and becomes an overnight celebrity. But when he befriends a 10-year-old boy with Communist parents, Shadhov is denounced as a Communist himself and must stand trial before the House Un-American Activities Committee.