Review of Monsieur Verdoux (1947) by Thomas M — 05 Nov 2013

After The Great Dictator, Chaplin said he would not have lampooned Hitler if he had known the horrors occurring in Europe at the time. Seven years later, this is the film Chaplin made against the world's culpability in mass destruction.

"Numbers sanctify," his serial killer explains, briefly unpacking heavy accusations against military-industrial operations as toxic to civilization. His Tramp character always survived a chaotic world, whether surrounded by the greed of a gold rush, hustle and bustle of modern times, or struggling to make ends meet for a kid.

Here is the Tramp reborn, still playful and witty, but now doing very well for himself armed with murder and deceit.