Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

In the shadow of his abruptly terminated 30-year banking career, Henri Verdoux is propelled into an unconventional new occupation to sustain his family, his wife Mona and son Peter. This peculiar job involves a macabre dance of romance and murder, as Verdoux begins marrying women, only to dispatch them once he has gained control of their fortunes. Armed with a series of clever aliases, Verdoux weaves a complex web of matrimonial deceit, with multiple wives unwittingly sharing his affections at any given moment. Verdoux's erstwhile banking acumen serves him well in this grim endeavour, as he skilfully navigates the nuances of this deadly game. However, the volatile stock market proves to be his undoing when his ill-gotten wealth evaporates in a catastrophic crash. Faced with the stark reality of his grim profession and the loss of his fortune, Verdoux acknowledges that his own demise is imminent, and surrenders when confronted by a relative of one of his victims. "Monsieur Verdoux" is a chilling tale of a man pushed to the brink, a bluebeard whose twisted survival strategy involves a lethal combination of marriage and murder. Yet, his luck begins to fade with two particular ladies, adding an unforeseen twist to his diabolical plans. This intricate narrative weaves a captivating exploration of desperation, deception, and deadly consequences.

Monsieur Verdoux is a comedy movie featuring Charlie Chaplin.

Monsieur Verdoux is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Criterion Channel, Max and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Monsieur Verdoux on Amazon Video and Apple TV.