Entertainment Value:
8/10
Historical
Significance: 9/10
Disc Features: 10/10
I
have always loved cinema. As a young child I was exposed to the usual joys of
visiting the local theater, and growing up in the 1980s meant the additional
pleasure of video rentals. We would see how many times we could watch the film
before having to return it. This was all your run-of-the-mill appreciation,
however, and it wasn’t until I was around 10 that this developed into a
life-long love affair. The moment I realized that I was different than most
kids came when I was the only one my age able to answer a trivia question about
a silent film character known as “The Tramp.” Charles Chaplin opened my eyes
and imagination to a world which was timeless, and that love has never waned.
Monsieur Verdoux, however, was one of the few Chaplin films which I had
difficulty with as a child.
This
is no longer “The Tramp,” as the world had changed in such a way that made him
somewhat irrelevant. As it was, Chaplin was able to keep the beloved film
character around and remaining silent long after the “talkies” had taken over.
The Tramp was a character that gave hope and joy to Americans in times of
difficulty. He allowed the masses a distraction from their own misery, while
also seeing the ability that the downtrodden screen persona had with making the
same troubles humorous. But as World War II came, Chaplin was forced to shift
the focus. First there was The Great
Dictator, and Monsieur Verdoux is
a post-war film with understandable themes of survival that carry more cynicism
than Chaplin’s pre-war films, much like the arrival of the film noir.
As
well as playing a speaking role, Chaplin deters from the usual path with his
role as the title character, which was based on the case of an infamous
real-life criminal. Orson Welles originally approached Chaplin with the idea,
but since the silent screen star always directed his own films, he bought the
idea instead. The result is a thoughtful comparison piece to the persona
Chaplin had built up onscreen to this point. Famed critic André Bazin has an essay
included in the booklet insert which goes into detail examining the polar
differences in this role. The booklet also includes an essay by critic Ignatiy
Vishnevetsky and a reprinted piece by Chaplin, mostly in regards to the
accusations of his communist involvement. This is also thought to be the main
reason behind Monsieur Verdoux’s
minimal success upon original release.
The
Blu-ray release has a 2K digital restoration of the film, with uncompressed
monaural soundtrack. The special features include a 2003 documentary on the
film’s production and release, as well as an all new documentary, “Charlie
Chaplin and the American Press.” Also included is an audio interview with actor
Marilyn Nash and a marketing gallery of advertisements and trailers.
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