Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

7.8Approved124 minDirector: Charlie Chaplin

1947 film by Charlie Chaplin

Monsieur Verdoux is a 1947 American black comedy film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, who plays a bigamist wife killer inspired by serial killer Henri Désiré Landru. The supporting cast includes Martha Raye, William Frawley, and Marilyn Nash.

The film concerns a former bank teller who marries and murders wealthy women in order to support his wife and child. It was controversial upon its release for its dark tone and critique of war and capitalism, and was consequently a critical and box office failure. Because the film was released around the same time that Chaplin was facing accusations of being a Communist, it was boycotted by several civic groups and damaged Chaplin's career.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Monsieur Verdoux about?
Monsieur Verdoux (1947) — Monsieur Verdoux is a bluebeard, he marries women and kills them after the marriage to get the money he needs for his family. But with two ladies he has bad luck.
Is Monsieur Verdoux based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Monsieur Verdoux scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.