Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Directed by: Charles Chaplin

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Monsieur Verdoux (Charles Chaplin) is a charmer when it comes to the ladies which comes in handy with his new line of work; marrying and murdering rich women for their money.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): Cats appear to be a running theme throughout the film. It sets up an interesting paradox which shows that while Monsieur Verdoux is a ruthless killer of women he is kind and gentle to animals, cats in particular. In one scene Verdoux returns to his Paris apartment, having taken a small bag away with him from a café. As he approaches his door a beautiful longhair tabby cat is sitting outside.

Monsieur Verdoux - Chaplin walking down Parisian street toward longhair tabby cat in doorway

The cat anxiously awaits the treat Verdoux has brought, standing up and almost hugging the man’s leg.

Monsieur Verdoux - longhair tabby cat looking up at Chaplin's legs

Monsieur Verdoux - longhair tabby cat reaching up on Chaplin's legs

Monsieur Verdoux - longhair tabby cat hugging Chaplin's legs

Verdoux sets the food down on the sidewalk for the cat and goes inside.

Monsieur Verdoux - Chaplin setting food down for longhair tabby cat

Monsieur Verdoux - longhair tabby cat reaching up on Chaplin's legs as he offers the cat food animated gif

Look closely! In the long shots the cat appears to be tethered to the building. This was probably to keep the cat from running after Chaplin or running away. It is not used in the close ups.

Monsieur Verdoux - Chaplin going inside after setting food down for longhair tabby cat who is tethered to building

Monsieur Verdoux - Chaplin beside longhair tabby cat tethered to building while eating food animated gif

Verdoux returns home to his wife (Mady Correll) and child, the ones he truly cares for and for whom he is so desperately trying to raise money. The boy, Peter (Allison Roddan) sits down on a bench beside a tuxedo cat.

Monsieur Verdoux - tuxedo cat on bench behind Chaplin and wife Mady Correll

Monsieur Verdoux - Peter Allison Roddan with tuxedo cat on bench behind Chaplin and wife Mady Correll

Later Peter and the cat are sitting by the fireplace. Peter is petting the cat and pulling on its tail. Verdoux scolds the boy, saying, “You have a cruel streak in you. I don’t know where you get it.” The boy says the cat likes it and Verdoux says he doesn’t, then reprimands, “Violence begets violence.”

Monsieur Verdoux - Peter Allison Roddan with tuxedo cat in front of fireplace

Monsieur Verdoux - Chaplin scolding Peter Allison Roddan with tuxedo cat in front of fireplace animated gif

Still later Verdoux is back in Paris and looking for someone on whom he can try a new poison. He spots a lonely girl (Marilyn Nash) in a doorway staying out of the rain. He offers his umbrella and takes her back to his apartment. As she removes her coat it is revealed she is holding a small, bedraggled tabby kitten.

Monsieur Verdoux - Chaplin helping girl Marilyn Nash take off coat as she holds tabby kitten

Monsieur Verdoux - Chaplin helping girl Marilyn Nash take off coat as she holds tabby kitten animated gif

He asks if she likes cats and she says not particularly, but she picked it up from the doorway because it was cold and wet. She asks Verdoux if he has any milk for the cat.