Monsieur Verdoux Blu-ray Review

Criterion's Blu-ray presentation of Charlie Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux is a triumph of restoration. The film is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p transfer encoded using MPEG-4 AVC, delivering a visually impressive experience. The meticulous 2K digital restoration, performed on an ARRISCAN film scanner from the original 35mm camera negative at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy, has rejuvenated this 1947 classic. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and flickers were meticulously cleaned using MTI's DRS and Pixel Farm's PFClean, with further enhancements by Image Systems' Phoenix to reduce small dirt, grain, noise, and jitter.

The film boasts a much-improved clarity and detail, with indoor and outdoor scenes exhibiting remarkable depth and stability in the black, gray, and white tones. While some age-related defects such as light scratches and vertical lines persist, these are minimal and do not detract from the viewing experience. Importantly, the film maintains a natural grain structure without evidence of excessive sharpening or transfer-specific issues like banding and aliasing. The close-ups, in particular, reveal a considerable improvement in detail and contrast — indicative of the high-quality restoration work.

Although there are minor imperfections like a few remaining vertical scratches and an occasional fiber appearing between minutes twenty and thirty-one, these are confined to the screen edges and minimally invasive. Criterion's balancing of contrast and black levels ensures visual consistency throughout. Overall, this restoration stands as a testament to Criterion's dedication to preserving cinematic history, offering viewers the best possible modern rendition of Monsieur Verdoux.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Monsieur Verdoux" contains a single audio track: English LPCM 1.0, accompanied by optional English SDH subtitles. Criterion has masterfully restored the film's sound, remastering the original track at 24-bit from a sound negative. This meticulous effort results in excellent clarity and depth, free from any audio dropouts, distortions, or background hiss. The dialogue remains consistently crisp and stable throughout, ensuring ease of understanding.

Chaplin's own composed soundtrack for "Monsieur Verdoux" is an essential component, executed with notable finesse. The music, although dynamically modest, resonates with clarity and precision. Distinct musical motifs associated with recurring characters and situations enhance the narrative, adding layers of suspense and creepiness. Particularly effective are the orchestral arrangements representing off-screen violence, which contribute significantly to the atmosphere. The seamless integration of music without any distortion or aging artifacts exemplifies Criterion's dedication to audio fidelity.

Despite the intrinsic limitations of monaural audio, the LPCM track impressively compensates with its uncompressed nature, preserving the richness of Chaplin’s score and the vocal clarity. The absence of customary monaural drawbacks such as pops, crackles, or hum further underscores the quality of this restoration. While the central, dynamic-less nature of the audio might be considered a constraint by some, it ultimately ensures an authentic and immersive listening experience true to the film’s original presentation.

The Blu-ray edition of "Monsieur Verdoux" includes a well-curated collection of extras that provide valuable insight into the film’s production, historical context, and its impact on Charlie Chaplin's public image. The feature "Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux" delves into the film's production history and subsequent political controversy, complemented by interviews with cinematic figures like Claude Chabrol and Norman Lloyd. "Charlie Chaplin and the American Press" scrutinizes the media's portrayal of Chaplin over the decades, offering a nuanced perspective on his public persona. An interview with actress Marilyn Nash presents a personal recount of her experiences working on the film. Additional inclusions such as period-specific radio ads and a trio of international trailers enrich the viewing experience. The accompanying booklet featuring essays and reprinted pieces adds scholarly depth to the selection.

Extras included in this disc:

• Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux: Documentary on the film's production and political controversy.
• Charlie Chaplin and the American Press: Analysis of media coverage and Chaplin’s public image.
• Marilyn Nash: Interview excerpts with actress Marilyn Nash.
• Radio Ads: Collection of thematic radio advertisements.
• Trailers: Theatrical trailers from France, Germany, and the U.S.
• Booklet: Illustrated booklet with critical essays and reprinted pieces by Charlie Chaplin and Andre Bazin.

Charlie Chaplin's "Monsieur Verdoux" stands out as one of his most politically charged and conceptually ambitious films. The movie, set in post-Depression Paris, follows the character of Henri Verdoux, a charming yet lethal conman inspired by the real-life criminal Henri Desire Landru. Verdoux, masking his dire financial circumstances with a veneer of sophistication, seduces and marries wealthy women only to murder them for their fortunes. Chaplin's portrayal deftly transitions from lighthearted charm to a dark nihilism as he methodically prepares deadly substances and executes his grim plan. The film's structural dichotomy is reinforced by sharp editing and Chaplin's timeless physicality, with occasional Tramp-like improvisations offering a momentary respite from its morbid thematic current.

Interestingly, what sets "Monsieur Verdoux" apart is not only its narrative but also its historical and political contexts. Released in the fraught era of the post-World War II Red Scare, Chaplin used the movie as a platform for his critique on society, targeting class disparity and the absurdities of war. His character's final courtroom monologue on mass violence and societal hypocrisy remains profoundly relevant, suggesting that his murderous acts pale in comparison to state-sanctioned atrocities. The film’s subversive content alienated American audiences deeply suspicious of Chaplin's political leanings, resulting in poor box office performance in the United States and ultimately contributing to Chaplin's contentious departure to Switzerland after his visa was revoked.

Despite its initial reception, "Monsieur Verdoux" has grown in critical acclaim. Criterion's Blu-ray release captures the film’s nuanced performances and socio-political critique with meticulous restoration work. This release provides essential supplementary features, including documentaries, video essays, and archival materials that flesh out Chaplin's motivations and the era’s political climate. The inclusion of critical essays by notable figures underscores the complex interplay between Chaplin’s personal struggles and the cinematic narrative. Criterion's meticulous presentation ensures that "Monsieur Verdoux" is appreciated not just as a captivating dark comedy but also as a significant cultural artifact reflective of its turbulent times.

"Monsieur Verdoux," directed by Charlie Chaplin, stands as one of his most audacious and intellectually stimulating works. As part of the Criterion Collection, this classic film has received a meticulous 2K digital restoration, bringing it to unprecedented levels of visual clarity and vibrancy. The film, which delves into the darkly comedic world of seduction, murder, and deceit, reveals Chaplin's bitter sentiments regarding the United States. Though it's a departure from Chaplin's traditional style, the film is a well-crafted masterpiece that provides a significant departure from his earlier and later works.

This Blu-ray release offers more than just an improved viewing experience. Accompanying the restored film are two insightful documentaries shedding light on the controversy that surrounded its release and Chaplin's tumultuous relationship with the American press. The supplemental materials provide over an hour of additional content, enriching the viewer's understanding of the film's production and its historical context. This meticulous attention to both visual quality and supplementary content makes the Criterion release an indispensable resource for film historians and enthusiasts alike.

The riskiest and most thought-provoking of all Charlie Chaplin films, "Monsieur Verdoux" enters the Criterion Collection having undergone a new 2K digital restoration. The film looks healthy and vibrant now, the best it ever has. Also included on this Blu-ray release are two very good documentaries that shed some light on the controversy surrounding the film's release and Chaplin's history with the American press. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.