Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Nominated for 1 Academy Award:

Best Original Screenplay

Falling asleep last night before I got to write about Monsieur Verdoux is partly indicative of how I feel about the film. Considering I hadn’t seen it before, I was probably expecting more comedy and a tighter script, but unfortunately the film is dragged down by weak writing and some uninspired directing choices.

Chaplin the actor is just fine in this, appearing a bit bored in the role, and not properly shot. There are scenes that work & are funny: the fishing trip, the wedding scene, but both rely heavily on Martha Raye’s vital performance. While the film does pick up in the end, it still feels like a disappointment, especially in writing and production values. The moral message in the courtroom feels inadequately placed in a film about a serial killer.

I give it: 6/10

IMDB LINK