Review of Monsieur Verdoux

Chaplin's 'Monsieur Verdoux' starts with 'crime' on a 'micro scale' -- that is a single criminal; but at the end of the film the theme changes towards the 'macro scale' and Chaplin holds a proverbial mirror up to the audience (accusing the audience, that is society ) of complicity in large scale 'crime'; or "death and destruction for profit". Fritz Lang in "M" (1931) preceded Chaplin in the use of a near identical device. In "M" he starts with crime on a 'micro scale'; that is a single criminal and at the end of the film the mirror is held up to the audience, which is being accused of crime on the 'macro scale' (allowing for injury, death and destruction for profit). Additionally Lang suggests that this participation is done with volition (a detail the micro-criminal claims not to have associated with his crimes ) and the society is accused of also having 'sound mind' associated with their crimes. Lang is harsher and more sarcastic than Chaplin as he has filled his 'court' with the full 'criminal element' of the city. Both scripts use for the 'micro scale' crimes that are as hideous as could be depicted at the time, only to have them pale in comparison to the greater accusations leveled at society. No wonder both films received mixed reactions from the public. In these films the directors are ruthless and brutal in their social commentary.