Rating: 
Summary: Black comedy that shines
Review: We hadn't seen Charlie Chaplin in the shoes of the Little Tramp since 1940's The Great Dictator, nor would we again. With the advent of talkies in the late twenties, he went through some difficult changes as modes of production and expectations among audiences grew more and more sophisticated; he said that movies needed sound as much as Beethoven's symphonies needed words, and not surprisingly, his output diminished. But when he did decide to make a movie every other three or four years, such as City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), or his masterpiece, The Great Dictator, they garnered for him terrific financial and critical rewards. Monsieur Verdoux was a flop. By the time it had come out in 1947, Chaplin had been accused in a paternity suit, suspected of being a Communist sympathizer, and in about six years he would leave the country almost for good. It is against this background of increasing paranoia and the beginnings of the Cold War that he shot his darkest comedy.
It begins with a shot of a tombstone inscribed "Monsieur Verdoux 1880-1937," and Verdoux (Chaplin) tells us through voice-over how he, a French bank clerk, lost his job during the Great Depression and how this forced him to turn to more nefarious methods of supporting his family. Under a variety of aliases, he romances lonely women of means, persuades them to convey their assets to him, and then murders them. There's Thelma, who's already been dispatched by means unknown and whose house Verdoux is putting up for sale; the pompous Madame Grosnay (Isobel Elsom), who initially resists Verdoux's over-enthusiasm, then eventually succumbs to his insistence; the near-harpy Lydia (Margaret Hoffman); and the crass, hate-her-so-much-you-love-her Annabella (Martha Raye). Savor the slap-stick in the rowboat scene where Verdoux repeatedly tries slipping the rope attached to an anchor around Anabella's neck, even tripping and covering his own face with a chlorophorm-soaked kerchief that was meant for her.
Observe how brilliant Chaplin is at winning us over, right from the first time we see him mundanely pruning his rose garden. He is charming, smart, and his sole reason for becoming a Bluebeard is out of necessity, to support his wheelchair-bound wife and young son. The women he chooses for his prey are all quite abominable, save for one - the Girl, who is never named in the picture. She's just out of prison and without means when Verdoux takes her in and feeds her, and is about to poison her (to end her suffering) when he learns about her diseased invalid husband. Her experiences mirror his own and he can't bring himself to do it.
Overall, it is a grim film. Though it provokes laughter throughout a darkness pervades. Robert Edwards wrote that "...it's almost as if Chaplin were aware of the negative reception that the film would have, because he carefully links the killings of one man with the mass murder that is war, a recent memory when the film was released in 1947." Indeed, what a troubling line it must have been for audiences to swallow when Chaplin says in the end "One murder makes a villain; millions a hero. Numbers sanctify." Watch this forgotten, extraordinarily relevant Chaplin classic as soon as you can.
Rating:
Summary: Still sorely underrated
Review: Many people seem to have a hard time stomaching this movie, I think in large part because, despite all possible warning to the contrary, people go see this movie with the idea that it will be like Chaplin's earlier movies, with him playing a character that either symbolizes human virtue or directly espouses Chaplin's views. These people are sorely dissapointed, because Chaplin's character, Monsieur Verdoux, is neither virtuous, nor does he express Chaplin's personal ideology. In fact, sometimes people come out of this still holding the point of view that this is just a regular Chaplin movie and are disgusted with Chaplin's apparently murderous tendencies!
The basic plot has been oulined here many, many times, and I don't think anything can be gained from going over it again; I will simply provide my views on what the characters mean so that those who watch this movie for the first time can at least go into it without drastic misconceptions. Verdoux is a French bank clerk layed off as a result of the depression, he sees no alternative but to marry women, obtain their assets, and murder them, in order to support his family. He loves his family (son and invalid wife) dearly, but despite this is cynical about the world, viewing it as a hostile place where one has to be hostile in return to survive in it. NOTE: Chaplin is NOT Verdoux (although they have some similarities: more on this later), at least, Verdoux is not Chaplin's vision of an ideal human being. In fact, Chaplin's ideal, which in earlier films took the form of the Tramp, is most nearly expressed by a female ex-con that Verdoux runs into. I forget exactly what she says, but one essential point is that a little kindness can make the world a wonderful place. Her optimistic world view is at direct odds with Verdoux's cynicism, and in fact Verdoux tells her that her optimism is corrupting his philosophy. There is much else that I could say about the themes of Monsieur Verdoux, but it is better if you simply see the movie, which I highly recommend.
Looking at the film in a fair and balanced way, however, it does have flaws. The only one of real importance to me is that Chaplin makes the character of Verdoux too sympathetic, especially at the end, with his statement to the court, which comes off, at least partly, as an excuse for his atrocities, rather than as purely an indictment of the hypocritical, inhuman world he lives in. My view of Verdoux is that he is a product of the mechanized, impersonal, ungrateful world so briliantly satirized in Modern Times, as inevitable as the Sun rising in the East, and not that he is a wise person (not that his statements at the end are what I would call wise, but they contain elements of wisdom that invite one to place trust in what Verdoux says). Perhaps at least part of this half-sympathetic portrayal is that Verdoux's disillusionment, his lashing out at a world that has turned his back on him, were traits that Chaplin at this stage in his career deeply identified with, and perhaps he couldn't help but put a little of himself into Verdoux. At any rate, these minor quibbles are no reason, I think, to deny the film the status of a classic masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: Lesser Chaplin Film, But a Good DVD
Review: "Monsieur Verdoux" is probably one of Chaplin's weakest films. While his performance is adequate and the scenes with Martha Raye are memorably hilarious, the good moments are mostly surrounded by strained, forgettable, downright unfunny moments. While the message of the film is admirable and sincere, Chaplin gives in to his unsubtle tendancy to beat it to death.
Nevertheless, this Chaplin curio is given a terrific presentation on this new Warner Brothers DVD, which is several notches ahead from the original Image Entertainment DVD. It's very sharp and the black and white image is crisp without many imperfections. Like most DVDs in this collection, there is a diverting introduction by Chaplin biographer David Robinson, as well as an analytical "Chaplin Today" documentary. There are several theatrical trailers, movie posters, and radio ads that interestingly show how the film was marketed in 1947. Rounding out the extras are photos, set drawings, and some scenes from other Chaplin movies.
Rating: 
Summary: Unspectacular Chaplin Film
Review: "Monsieur Verdoux" saw Chaplin out of his 'little tramp' role, instead playing a man who must marry and murder women and steal their money in order to support his real family. The idea (originally proposed by Orson Welles) is interesting enough, and there are some good scenes (most notably with Martha Raye), but the dialogue is forced and laboured, the sentimentality is sugary sweet, and the morale of the story is delivered very unsubtely.
The DVD, released by Image Entertainment, is pretty good. The picture quality is a bit scratchy and grainy, but is better than previous video incarnations. The sound is a bit harsh. The extras, while not abundant, are good for a Chaplin fan. There are some production photos and sketches, as well as some original script segments and advertising material. Biographies of Chaplin and Martha Raye are included as liner notes. This DVD will do until Warner Brothers released their special edition (although the movie probably doesn't warrant repeated purchases).
Rating:
Summary: Unrated Classic-a-must-see
Review: "Verdoux" is a welcome departure from the characterization of the tramp! Chaplin shows he is capable of subtle humor away from the slapstich genre. Charlie has yet to shake off some of the silent film acting style such as looking into the camera too much. However, once you get pass that tendency it is a wonderfully dry witty film. Chaplin and Raye have great chemistry! It's a pity chaplin did not make more sound films as each is a real treat! Charlie shows us villiany in an equally charismatic way. A MUST SEE FLICK!
Rating:
Summary: message for 2004 and more.
Review: A well written movie with twists and turns. It teaches a good lesson for 2004 and beyond.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, but marred by silly speeches at the end
Review: An interesting, unusual movie from Chaplin with some very funny moments. Still, not as funny as his previous efforts. And the "philosophical" speeches at the end do get pretty silly.
Rating:
Summary: even thought chaplin is a murderer this movie is great!
Review: At first I hated the movie because I couldn't belive Chaplin = murderer. If I could go back in time I would slap myself. Its awesome movie. Its about a Bank clerk who gets fired who goes marrying and murdering wives. In the movie you will see the wimpyest fight. After the great depresion he gets cought and(if you dont want me to give away the movie dont read the rest of the review)gets sent to the gullitine. as verdoux says at his trial "as a mass killer i am an ametur by comparison however i wont lose my temper because im about to lose my head.not recomended for small children.
Rating: 
Summary: Chaplin, the amoral windbag
Review: Chaplin became unbearable to those around him as he got older. He fancied himself an intellectual, a humanist, a philosopher, a great composer (actually, his arranger wrote his music and Chaplin gladly took the credit and the cash). Here, Chaplin plays a murderer who justifies his crimes because, bascially, others (Hitler) have done worse. Brillian moral reasoning, eh? A film, and man, without a moral compass.
Rating:
Summary: every Nasdaq investor must see it!
Review: How "investing" could make people a killer, a murderor. While Mr.Senator accuse Mr.Ken Lay a worse person than Mr.Ponzi, IMHO on the contrary investors should know better that they were entering a game worse than a ponzi game in the first place-a manipulated Ponzi game-most people lose and you are more likely to be among the losers. Watching this video might save you life and your marriage. live long and prosper-keep away from stock market:)
|
