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Picture
A charming con man marries rich women and murders them for their money.
COMEDY/CRIME

Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Written and Directed by Charles Chaplin

Starring Charles Chaplin, Martha Raye, Isobel Elsom, Marilyn Nash, Ada May, Mady Correll, Robert Lewis, Irving Bacon, Charles Evans

​Oscar Nominations - Best Original Screenplay

Connor Eyzaguirre
February 21, 2021
8/10
The concept of a serial killer was fairly alien in the 40's. The term itself ("serial killer") wasn't actually coined until the 1970's to describe men like Ted Bundy and the Zodiac Killer. More so, the Hays Code prevented every Hollywood production from going too far in any risqué direction. No sex, no violence, and the bad guy always had to get his comeuppance (among other restrictions). That's why a film like Monsieur Verdoux is so intriguing. It's a film about a con man murdering rich women for their money, and actively trying to get away with it. Of course, in the end, he turns himself in, but it's still hard to believe a film like this could slip through the code. But I guess artists like Charlie Chaplin had a lot of pull, and could make that happen.

Chaplin plays Henri Verdoux, a very dangerous yet charming man. To support his wife and son, Verdoux seeks out wealthy single women, woos them, marries them, kills them, robs them, and disappears. By the time we first meet him, he's murdered at least fourteen women. Throughout the film, we see him repeat his process with a number of marks, only to fail miserably with one of them, which causes him to lose faith in himself. Keep in mind, this is a comedy, and Verdoux is our protagonist. Chaplin plays him as a delightful gentleman, almost making you forget how much of a monster he is. It's a great performance, and he works well with all the women he pursues in the film.

Monsieur Verdoux is a Chaplin film I had not heard of. Once I did, I pounced on it. I'm a massive Chaplin fan and there was no way I could pass up the opportunity to see him play a goofy serial killer. While the film does have a bit of a slow start, it's hilarious once it gets going. Chaplin's comedic talents are unmatched, and he elevates this film (which was almost made by Orson Welles) into unforgettable territory that few others could accomplish.

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