Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Director:

Charles Chaplin

Writers:

Orson Welles (idea) and
Charles Chaplin (writer)

Release Date:

8 December 1947 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Chaplin's Bluebeard comedy is a killer!

Plot:

A suave but cynical man supports his family by marrying and murdering rich women for their money, but the job has some occupational hazards.

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Directed By Star | Rowboat | Social Commentary | Capitalism

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins

Cast

Charles Chaplin	...	Henri Verdoux
Mady Correll	...	Mona Verdoux
Allison Roddan	...	Peter Verdoux
Robert Lewis	...	Maurice Bottello
Audrey Betz	...	Martha Bottello
Martha Raye	...	Annabella Bonheur
Ada May	...	Annette, Annabella's maid (as Ada-May)
Isobel Elsom	...	Marie Grosnay
Marjorie Bennett	...	Marie's Maid
Helene Heigh	...	Yvonne La Salle, Marie's friend
Margaret Hoffman	...	Lydia Floray
Marilyn Nash	...	The Girl
Irving Bacon	...	Pierre Couvais
Edwin Mills	...	Jean Couvais
Virginia Brissac	...	Carlotta Couvais

Also Known As:

A Comedy of Murders (USA) (working title)
The Ladykiller (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Denmark:7 (2003) | Finland:K-11 (re-rating) | Finland:K-16 (original rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | UK:A (1947) (cut) | UK:PG (1986)

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Charles Chaplin Productions

Trivia:

Before production started, approval was refused by the MPPDA (now the MPAA) under the Production Code (Hays Code), labeling the scenario, still called "A Comedy Of Murders", in their words "unacceptable". They continued, "In his indictment of the 'system' and the 'social structure', the filmmaker offered a 'rationale' of Verdoux's crimes, in terms of their moral work." Worst of all the board also considered Verdoux's attitude toward god "blasphemous". In a letter of response, scene by scene, Charles Chaplin upheld his screenplay again the charge of subversion, but only giving in on details. For example, when one of Verdoux's wives invites him to "come to bed" the line had to be replaced with "get to bed". Chaplin had no trouble getting around such proscriptions, as he did with Verdoux's morning-after "humming" with briskly engaging music. The production board complied and gave this film a seal of approval.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the story takes place in the years 1932-1937, all the women's fashions and hairstyles are strictly in the 1946-1947 mode, when the film was made.

Quotes:

Henri Verdoux: Wars, conflict - it's all business. One murder makes a villain; millions, a hero. Numbers sanctify, my good fellow!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux (2003) (TV)

wonderful

I don't agree with the comment I've just read (by Wayne ?). Is the moral of this film as simple as it seems ? Is it simple to accept that a man, after having killed women, quietly returns to his family, kisses his children and cares for his handicapped wife ? As far as the final speech is concerned, there does not seem to be any pacific message ; rather it is an ambiguous observation concerning where is the true violence, and who are the most dangerous criminals. The last sequence is quite admirable : a man who is going to die a few minutes later, accepts to disgust a glass of rhum, and discovers a totally unexpected pleasure. Until the very moment of death, life is worth to be lived