Plot: What’s it about?
Henri Verdoux (Charles Chaplin) is married man with a child, so he has a lot of responsibilities. His role of provider is made even more important because of his wife, who is invalid and unable to do much around the house. Her condition also demands more resources, so Verdoux has endless bills to manage with his limited income. His needs have become so great, no normal job or even two jobs could provide the needed wages. In order to care for his wife and child, Verdoux moves into a more unusual line of work. Verdoux loves his family and is at his core, a decent man, but his place in life has forced his hand at times. He now travels to different cities, where he looks for wealthy older women to entertain. His love to own wife remains pure and true, but in order to make ends meet, he seduces these older women. These ladies are often spinsters, not likely to find a man interested in them, even with their riches. But Verdoux meets these women, turns on his charms, and wins them over, hook, line, and sinker. Once he has gained their affections and trust, he turns toward the wealth he so needs. The women are so pleased to be cared for, they often open up their bank accounts to Verdoux. But when the time comes to leave, he cannot do so and keep the money, so he kills the women, then returns home. Can he continue this dark, brutal way of life, or will his deeds catch up with him in the end?
Charles Chaplin, perhaps the most famous of all film stars, took a big risk when he decided to produce Monsieur Verdoux. Chaplin was best known for his slapstick work, but he also showed ample dramatic talent. In City Lights, he had balanced humor and drama to perfection, so it was clear he could handle either element. But in Monsieur Verdoux, he created a darker vision of his style and audiences weren’t sure how to react. At the time, viewers weren’t prepared to watch a movie about a murderer and laugh at the same time. So Monsieur Verdoux wasn’t one of Chaplin’s hits, but over time, it has found its place in his resume. The film plays like a darkly comic thriller, with more heart and intelligence than you might expect. His performance is excellent, especially in a few key scenes that pure Chaplin, just in a darker atmosphere. His costars are in fine form also, including a memorable turn from Martha Raye (Tropic Holiday, Mountain Music). Monsieur Verdoux has its ups and downs, so it won’t stand up against Chaplin’s best pictures, but it has a unique texture that works well, while keeping Chaplin’s basic style intact. So this is not Chaplin at his best, but without question, this is a film that deserves attention. This single disc edition is short on extras, but the film itself warrants at least a rental, if not a purchase.
Video: How does it look?
Monsieur Verdoux is presented in full frame, as intended. The previous batch of Chaplin films MK2 suffered from conversion flaws thanks to the PAL sources, but I hoped this second wave could avoid those flaws. As it turns out, the same issues return in this transfer and while not as serious, the ghosting is still visible. But even so, this is a fantastic visual presentation should thrill fans and dazzle first time viewers. The print has been restored, which allows the print to be free from all but minor debris, marks, and grain. You’ll still see some defects, but nothing serious and given the film’s age, the print looks incredible. The image has more depth and detail than expected also, so the visuals can really shine in this treatment. The contrast sparkles here too, with accurate black levels that never falter in the least. So while the ghosting is an issue at times, this is still an excellent transfer in all other respects.
Audio: How does it sound?
A new Dolby Digital 5.1 option is included here, which I think could be overkill in this case, but I know some of you are surround sound addicts. The material has signs of age, but the pops, hiss, and distortion prove to be infrequent. So no, there hasn’t been extensive restoration work done, but good source elements have been used. The mix has a more natural, pleasant texture than expected, given the limits of the material and such. But by the same token, don’t expect too much, as the material isn’t dynamic by nature. I still prefer the original mono soundtrack, which is also found here, but for those who need surround sound, this is a solid presentation. This release also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Korean, and Thai, just in case you’ll need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This the sole film to be given a single disc treatment in the Chaplin Collection, but you’ll still find some solid extras. The most substantial of which is Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux, a half hour look at the film’s production and impact. I was pleased to see filmmaker Claude Chabrol involved, as he discusses his own thoughts on the film and how it influenced the thriller genre, even up to the modern day pictures. You’ll also learn about the ins & outs of the production itself, as well as the reaction it sparked in audiences. This disc also includes an introduction with David Robinson, a set of preparatory sketches & blueprints, a selection of still photos & promotional artwork, and two of the film’s theatrical trailers.
