A 1947 Black Comedy film written, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, based on an idea by Orson Welles, about a bigamist wife killer. Didn't expect that from Chaplin, didn't you?
It was a critical and commercial flop, Chaplin's previous scandals not helping in the least. It still was nominated for the 1947 Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay), and was later Vindicated by History.
Tropes used in Monsieur Verdoux include:
- Author Filibuster: Verdoux's statement at his murder trial.
- The Bluebeard: Henri Verdoux
- Chekhov's Gun: The family of the first woman to be killed by Verdoux in the movie promise that they'd recognize Verdoux anywhere. Sure enough, a chance to identify turns up at the climax of the movie.
- A Million Is a Statistic: Towards the end, Verdoux comments wryly, "One murder makes a villain; millions, a hero. Numbers sanctify, my good fellow!"
- Mood Whiplash: The whole thing is pretty dark, but humorously so--until the last quarter of the movie, when he's caught and sentenced to death, at which point it becomes a very philosophical and pointed message about the death penalty and hypocrisy.
- Morality Pet: Verdoux's sickly wife and child, and later, the Girl as well.
- Posthumous Narration
- Serial Killer: Henri Verdoux
- Very Loosely Based on a True Story: Verdoux is inspired by the real case of Henri Désiré Landru.
- Villain Protagonist
- What Is Evil?
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