Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Thanks for the memories!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It took me years to settle down, mature, and approach this film with a fresh eye. Those looking for the little fellow to knock about and make them howl with laughter, are approaching this gem from the wrong direction. I know, because that's what *I* have done. After several years of relishing Chaplin's work up through "Modern Times", I found this film, (and The Great Dictator), hard to approach. Decades had to go by, before I could have a screening, which was worthy of its genius. I PROPOSE AN EXPERIMENT: Can movie fans like me round up some new viewers, who know nothing of Chaplin, and get their take on this without the pre-loaded expectations of The Gentleman Tramp? Best bits for me come in all sequences with Martha Raye ("THE MOUTH"), and a profound sequence inside a flower shop, where Verdoux sweet-talks a woman over the telephone. Watch the reaction of the florist listening- in. The scene is sublime and devastating. his first murder is artfully portrayed by letting us watch the outdoors, through a window, across a stairway going up. The bedroom in which the crime occurs is off to the left. Brilliant economy and unforgettable story-telling.

Henri Verdoux (Charles Chaplin) is a prim and proper man who kills for a living. He seduces middle age women, steals their money, kills them, and dispose of their bodies. To him it's just a way of living. He invests his money in the stock market and support his wife and son in their country home. Even in the end, he sees nothing wrong with his killings. "Wars, conflict - it's all business. One murder makes a villain; millions, a hero. Numbers sanctify, my good fellow!" This is very much about Charlie Chaplin's performance and the character. One of my favorite show is Dexter. The difference between the two is that Dexter struggles whereas Verdoux does not. Verdoux is as amoral as they come. It doesn't make for a compelling watch. Chaplin tries to inject a lot of humor in this character by portraying lot of odd behaviors and funny errors. It's cute but none of it made me laugh.Overall I do commend Chaplin for pushing the envelope by creating an unique character. It makes up for the slow pace and unfunny jokes.

An unemployed man supports his family by marrying and murdering rich women for their money. Chaplin made only a handful of films after the silent era and this one followed "The Great Dictator" after a seven-year gap, a period over which the great comedian seems to have lost his gift for laughs. Perhaps this was just the result of Chaplin in his autumnal years wanting to do something more substantial, but he seems unsure of whether he's doing comedy or drama. This is the first film in which Chaplin speaks English, but he hardly says anything that is funny. After a slow start, this turns out to be a decent film but it seems the premise had potential for much more humor than is mined here.

I saw this film as a child and found it amusing. I watched it last night on TCM, and was happy that I was no longer a child. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this picture seems to condemn the traditional moral structure of our civilization. It justifies the murder of innocent women by a spurious comparison with the murder of innocent people that result in war between states. Gulp. The makers of this film are positing the idea that everybody's doing it so it must be alright. Everyone has a right to amorality or even immorality, but they shouldn't expect murder of any sort to be acceptable behavior that should go unpunished by society.