Monsieur Verdoux (United Artists) (1947)

RAVI • LEWIS Martha Raye Tackles New Type Role In “Verdoux” As startling and different as the film itself is the casting of come¬ dienne Martha Raye as one of the leading ladies in “Monsieur Ver¬ doux”, Charles Chaplin’s sensa¬ tional new tragi-comedy which opens at the . Theatre Noted as a purveyor of broad comedy, Martha tops her every past performance under the direc¬ tion of Chaplin, with whom she has a series of hysterically funny scenes. In addition she makes ex¬ cellent capital of her first oppor¬ tunity for subtle and romantic characterization as Annabella, the lone “indestructible” wife of an up-to-date French Bluebeard, a woman who is at once shrewd and sentimental, loving and suspicious and whose vulgarities are matched only by her incredible luck. The actress’ appearance in an entirely different type of role is characteristic of the genius of ; JChaplin’s casting, which discards formula to bring to life his fas¬ cinating theme and characters. A vaudeville trouper from her birth — which took place in a dressing room in the theater where her family’s act was playing — Martha Raye was a Broadway big time favorite before coming to Hollywood to star in pictures. Since then her bounce, sense of ^|omedy timing and vitality have ^pleased hundreds of audiences and those qualities reach a new peak in scenes which “Monsieur Ver¬ doux” audiences will greet with shattering laughter. In one priceless sequence Martha has the theatre-goers sitting on the 'fe?dge of their seats, even though !she doesn’t appear. A crescendo of suspense and uncontrollable mirth Still No. CC7-P141 Raucous Martha Raye plays a novel part in Charles Chaplin’s “Monsieur Verdoux”, now at the . Theatre through United Artists release. Mat (ID) .15 is built merely by means of her raucous, unnerving laughter — heard in the distance. With Chaplin as the star, “Mon¬ sieur Verdoux” also features Isobel Elsom and Robert Lewis, and in¬ troduces for the first time Marilyn Nash. Chaplin wrote and directed “Monsieur Verdoux” himself with Robert Florey and Wheeler Dryden as associate directors. The picture is released through United Artists. Chaplin's Unique Type Of Romance In “Verdoux” o Charles Chaplin doesn’t believe in the hackneyed boy-meets-girl formula nor the routine June-moon- you romance. In “Monsieur Ver¬ doux”, his sensational new film which opens at the Theatre on through United Artists release, he once more gives his world-wide audience his own strange and haunting kind of love story. A romance which is frightening, tender, intense, without losing any of the hilarious comedy for which he has long been world-famous, runs through every sequence of “Monsieur Verdoux”, from the time when Chaplin, as Verdoux, is introduced as a gay blade of a modern French Bluebeard to when he confronts his judges in a bril¬ liantly satiric finale. The comedian and The Girl, por¬ trayed by lovely newcomer, Mari¬ lyn Nash, play out their wounding, exquisite love affair against a back¬ ground of shocking melodrama and fascinating intrigue. A peculiar in¬ tensity of drama, an even more peculiar hysteria of laughter and this strange love story—that hurts —make the picture one which will appeal to all ages and tastes of audiences. “Monsieur Verdoux” also fea¬ tures Martha Raye, Isobel Elsom and Robert Lewis. Chaplin wrote and directed “Monsieur Verdoux” himself with Rohert Florey and Wheeler Dryden as associate di¬ rectors. Still No. CC7-P147 Martha Raye and Charles Chaplin in one of “Monsieur Verdoux’s” more hilarious scenes. Chaplin as a seafarer returned home, is greeted gushingly by one of his romantic victims. The picture is at the Theatre now through United Artists release. Mat (2A ) .30 Still No. CC7-P135 “Home, sweet home,” sighs Martha Raye gustily while Chaplin patiently endures her raucous affection. “Monsieur Verdoux”, starring Chaplin with Miss Raye featured, is at the Theatre through United Artists release. Mat (2J) .30 * Still No. CC7-P94 Charles Chaplin as Ver¬ doux and Robert Lewis, his friend Botello, the chemist, discuss poison¬ ings on his rare visits home in his most pro¬ vocative and funniest film yet, “Monsieur Verdoux”. Mat (2G) .30 Robert Lewis Has Taught Drama, Appeared In and Produced Plays Robert Lewis, who plays the small but highly strategic role of the chemist, Botello, in the unusual Charles Chaplin starring picture, “Monsieur Verdoux”, now playing at the Theatre through United Artists release, was born in New York City on March 3, 1909. Lewis matriculated at City College in New York and then studied music at the Juillard School. Later he was instructor of drama at Sarah Lawrence College and at Yale University. For ten years he was asso¬ ciated with the Group Theatre in New York. In 1943 he went to Hollywood, appearing on the screen in “Tonight We Raid Calais”, “Paris After Dark” and “Dragon Seed”. Recently Lewis staged the musical fantasy, “Brigadoon”, which is currently making a sensational success on Broadway. While “Monsieur Verdoux” was in the course of production at the Chaplin studio, Lewis regaled his fellow workers one day with the fol¬ lowing amusing story of the theatre. It took place when he was discuss¬ ing the theatre with the late Dr. Emanuel Libman, famed diagnostician. “Yes, I know something about the theatre,” said Dr. Libman. “Sarah Bernhardt once called me in to treat her. She was the greatest actress of her time.” “Did you see the immortal Duse?” Lewis suggested. “Duse? No, I never saw Duse,” Libman confessed. “She never called me in.” Page Twenty-nine