Movie Reviews for Monsieur Verdoux

Monsieur Verdoux

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Movie Reviews of Monsieur Verdoux

Movie Review: Lesser Chaplin Film, But a Good DVD
Summary: 4 Stars

"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.

Movie Review: Chaplin adrift in a dark and sinister world
Summary: 4 Stars

Chaplin plays a French Bluebeard who loses his respectable job at a bank during the Depression and then takes to marrying and murdering rich women in order to get the money to support his invalid wife and child. It's a black comedy with a lot more emphasis on black than comedy. There's intelligence here and a great deal of cynicism: the world is an evil place, kindness is a rare commodity, etc.

What shocked most people was Chaplin's total lack of remorse as the murderer; he treats it just like a business. There are a couple of old comedy routines thrown in (most memorable is where he tries to bump off Martha Raye in a rowboat), but they don't amount to much. Chaplin's "common man" (so well represented by the little tramp in earlier pictures) is now lost in a sea of worldly despair and nihilist philosophy. There might be a lot to chew on here about the fate of mankind in a bleak world, but it's not much fun to watch.

Movie Review: HOORAY FOR RAYE!
Summary: 4 Stars

When Chaplin set about to tell the tale of MONSIEUR VERDOUX, he wanted an actress for the role of the indestructible Annabella who could hold her own in the comedy department. He looked no further than stage/radio/movie star Martha Raye, who was known for her improvisational skills and was fearless when it came to comedy. Raye considered this the high point of her career, to have been chosen by the man she considered The Master as a co-star. Without exception, critics hail the rowboat scene when Verdoux is trying vainly to murder the obnoxious Annabella as the highlight of the film. Given the right director, Raye was matchless in comedy and also proved to be a capable dramatic actress in a precious few roles (Jumbo, The Gossip Columnist). Watch this film, if only to appreciate the comedy genius of Martha Raye. Oh, Chaplin ain't bad either.

Movie Review: an ironic delight of a movie
Summary: 4 Stars

I first saw the movie when I was 17 years old and was smitten immediately by its dark, perverse humor, and especially the performance of Martha Raye. It is worth buying just for her performance alone, a classic of comedy. Some of it seems a bit awkward and not smoothly done, such as the speeding wheels of the train to indicate travel and time passing. And some of Chaplain's shticks such as the way he counts bills seem a bit gratuitous but these flaws don't do much damage to the whole. One of Chaplain's best if not the very best.