Monsieur Verdoux: The Greatest And Blackest Comedy by Master CHAPLIN (1947)

edje (69)in #movie • 7 years ago (edited)

scene from Monsieur Verdoux - Charles Chaplin & Marilyn Nash

Monsieur Verdoux is maybe the best movie Charles Chaplin made in the sound-era, at least it is to me. It is maybe also the movie of Chaplin that got the least attention of the crowd. The movie was released in one of the most difficult times of Chaplin. Just after the ending of the world war, the Americans didn't like the attitude of Chaplin, not wanting to become a US citizen, and even worst than that, the administration thought of Chaplin having sympathies with communism. Although it took another couple for years before Chaplin left the USA for good, the public hunt on him pushed this brilliant black comedy away from attention and viewers. Really a BIG shame.

The idea of the movie came from Orson Welles, already years before Chaplin shot the movie. Chaplin bought the right of the movie with the agreement Orson is to be credited for. A movie inspired by the French serial killers Henri Désiré Landru who was convicted for his crimes (11 murders) in 1922 and send to the guillotine. As Chaplin explains in the begin of the movie, Monsieur Verdoux (his movie character) is a Bluebird, someone who murders wives for money. Verdoux, married and all, regularly goes on out-of-town for business. Charming as he is; Noble as he is; He wraps woman after woman around his fingers; Marries them; Kills them; Takes their money for the sole reason to support his crippled wife who is bound to the wheelchair. This gives a high empathy factor, and turns the viewer into liking him instead of being disgusted. Chaplin brings the story in such a great style and with such great comedy, this movie will stay with you forever.

With the weekend coming up, why wait and watch for yourself. The full length motion picture I found on YouTube, I've linked below.