Monsieur Verdoux (1947) is easily the most shocking and daring Charlie Chaplin film. It is also in my mind and in many others Charlie's best talkie. The movie is a pitch black comedy were Charlie plays not the little tramp but instead a man who marries many women simply to murder them. Charlie's strong politic beliefs had already by this time made him a controversial figure in the U.S.A. This movie being his most political film as well as being a film that would alienate those who simply wanted the type of overt slapstick comedy that he had been known for in the 1920's and 30's, did little to help its success. The movie was not a success at the Box Office and American critics were not very impressed.
I love the following review from a French critic that looks at this film for what it is, a very smart and clever movie. If you have any trouble reading the following page simply click on it and use your touch screen to zoom in.
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