Monsieur Verdoux and communist accusations Charlie Chaplin

monsieur verdoux (1947), dark comedy serial killer, marked significant departure chaplin. unpopular @ time of release flopped in united states.

chaplin claimed barry trials had crippled [his] creativeness , , time before began working again. in april 1946, began filming project had been in development since 1942. monsieur verdoux black comedy, story of french bank clerk, verdoux (chaplin), loses job , begins marrying , murdering wealthy widows support family. chaplin s inspiration project came orson welles, wanted him star in film french serial killer henri désiré landru. chaplin decided concept make wonderful comedy , , paid welles $5,000 idea.

chaplin again vocalised political views in monsieur verdoux, criticising capitalism , arguing world encourages mass killing through wars , weapons of mass destruction. because of this, film met controversy when released in april 1947; chaplin booed @ premiere, , there calls boycott. monsieur verdoux first chaplin release failed both critically , commercially in united states. more successful abroad, , chaplin s screenplay nominated @ academy awards. proud of film, writing in autobiography, monsieur verdoux cleverest , brilliant film have yet made.

the negative reaction monsieur verdoux largely result of changes in chaplin s public image. along damage of joan barry scandal, publicly accused of being communist. political activity had heightened during world war ii, when campaigned opening of second front soviet union , supported various soviet–american friendship groups. friendly several suspected communists, , attended functions given soviet diplomats in los angeles. in political climate of 1940s america, such activities meant chaplin considered, larcher writes, dangerously progressive , amoral. fbi wanted him out of country, , launched official investigation in 1947.

chaplin denied being communist, instead calling himself peacemonger , felt government s effort suppress ideology unacceptable infringement of civil liberties. unwilling quiet issue, openly protested against trials of communist party members , activities of house un-american activities committee. chaplin received subpoena appear before huac not called testify. activities reported in press, , cold war fears grew, questions raised on failure take american citizenship. calls made him deported; in 1 extreme , published example, representative john e. rankin, helped establish huac, told congress in june 1947: [chaplin s] life in hollywood detrimental moral fabric of america. [if deported] ... loathsome pictures can kept before eyes of american youth. should deported , gotten rid of @ once.

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