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Monsieur Verdoux Overview:

Monsieur Verdoux (1947) was a Crime - Drama Film directed by Charlie Chaplin and produced by Charlie Chaplin.

SYNOPSIS

Chaplin's notorious film about Landru, the Parisian bank clerk who murdered a string of wealthy widows, is a mixture of a straight thriller and black comedy, with an unsettling tone that originally kept away postwar audiences and alienated Chaplin fans. Nevertheless, there is much to recommend this amusing critique of a modern society that values money more than human lives. Big-mouthed comedian Raye has her finest role as the widow who proved Verdoux's ultimate challenge. Ahead of its time when produced, the film has since moved from cult status to classic and is now widely hailed as one of Chaplin's essential works.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1947 --- Ceremony Number 20 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best WritingCharles ChaplinNominated
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Monsieur Verdoux BlogHub Articles:

Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Oct 26, 2017 From 4 Star Films

Prior to the making and release of Monsieur Verdoux Charlie Chaplin had undoubtedly hit the most turbulent patch in his historic career and not even he could come out of scandal and political upheaval unscathed. To put it lightly his stock in the United States plummeted. You would think that he more... Read full article

Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Oct 26, 2017 From 4 Star Films

Prior to the making and release of Monsieur Verdoux Charlie Chaplin had undoubtedly hit the most turbulent patch in his historic career and not even he could come out of scandal and political upheaval unscathed. To put it lightly his stock in the United States plummeted. You would think that he more... Read full article

The 1947 Blogathon: Monsieur Verdoux

By Summer Reeves on Jul 13, 2015 From Serendipitous Anachronisms

The 1947 Blogathon: Monsieur Verdoux 13 Monday Jul 2015 Posted by Summer Reeves in 1940s, Blogathon, Comedy, Drama, Farce, Philosophy, Politics ≈ 16 Comments Tags1940s, Bazin, Blogathon, Brecht, Charlie Chaplin, Comedy, Creepy True Story, D... Read full article

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Monsieur Verdoux Quotes:

No Quote for this film.
Monsieur Verdoux Facts
The film was originally meant to be directed by Orson Welles and starring Charles Chaplin, but Chaplin backed out at the last moment, saying that he had never had anyone direct him before and didn't want to start. Instead, he bought the screenplay off Welles and re-wrote parts of it, crediting Welles with only the "idea". Welles said that, despite most of the script being his, he didn't mind as it was one of his lesser works.
Charles Chaplin hired famed press agent Russell Birdwell to publicize this film. Just prior to the premiere, Birdwell wrote columnist Hedda Hopper a note saying: "I contend that Charlie Chaplin's 'Monsieur Verdoux' is the greatest and most controversial picture that has ever come from the Hollywood mills. If I lose I will publicly eat the negative of the film in front of the Chaplin studios. Sincerely, Bird." After she'd seen the film, Hopper wired back: "DEAR BIRD: START EATING. HOPPER."
Based on real-life French murderer Desire Landru, who was guillotined in 1922.
The producers of the film were sued in 1948 by Parisian bank employee Henri Verdoux.
Chaplin regarded the film as "the cleverest and most brilliant film of my career".
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