Charlie Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux, a "Comedy of Murderers" opening at Nuart December 12, 2008

Monsieur Verdoux, a "Comedy of Murderers" is showing at Landmark's Nuart Theatres on December 12 - 18. Showtimes are Fri-Sun at 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:55; Mon-Thu at 4:00, 7:00, 9:55.

Here is some information on the film itself:

With Chaplin ‘s new incarnation of serial killer Henri Verdoux, he abandoned his beloved Tramp, which had delighted audiences around the world for almost 25 years, and replaced him with a character of questionable morality – a change that both bewildered and enraged audiences and critics of the time. Gone suddenly were the Tramp’s canal boat shoes, shabby genteel attire, black curly hair, the oft-tipped derby, the twirling cane, the mustache square, the melancholy, shy-around-women vagabond, suddenly replaced by a fastidious, elegantly attired, seeming commercial traveler who’s obviously a devil with the ladies; but who, in fact, supports a family by marrying multiple women and then dispatching them for their money.

Based on an idea suggested to Chaplin by Orson Welles (whose name appears on the credits after a threatened lawsuit), himself inspired by the real-life serial killer Landru, Chaplin’s “Comedy of Murders” — its original title — ranges in mood from suspense film to knock-down, drag-out farce, especially with outrageously crude nouveau riche lottery winner and impossible-to-whack Martha Raye, in a scene-stealing performance as “the most vulgar woman ever created, chattering away with her mouth full of croissant and laughing not like one drain but ten” (Geoff Brown) — a takeoff on An American Tragedy’s drowning turns into a Chaplinian dunking.

MONSIEUR VERDOUX, with its theme and main character of remarkable complexity, garnered reviews ranging from personal attacks on the supposed Communist sympathizer (including hostile questioning from columnist Ed Sullivan), to James Agee’s impassioned three-part counterblast to the critics in The Nation (see excerpted quote below). Rarely seen in theaters, VERDOUX is not only essential Chaplin, but remains an allegory for our time.

Hope to see you there!!

Official Website: http://www.landmarktheatres.com