Chaplin and Occupy Wall Street

I have been watching the Occupy Wall Street protests with horror and I could not be any prouder to be a part of OWS LA if I tried.

The other day I was discussing his holy Chaplin with a fellow protester and a little light bulb went off in my head: Monsieur Verdoux.

While most silent film fans skew 'older' and 'Replican-er' even they would have to admit Charlie was for the little guy (I've had quite a few of them say in dead seriousness they KNEW for sure Chaplin was a Commie.  I think he was a Socialist but that's a topic for another day.)  Any Chaplin film could do, but a few came to mind immediately.

City Lights he's wrongly accused of stealing a ton of money, which is then used to pay for a poor girl's much needed surgery (he's quite literally accused by a whitey drunk driving fat cat).  She can't support herself or her grandmother very well without it.  Once she has the surgery she flourishes, while Chaplin's accused Tramp goes to jail and becomes even poorer and beaten down from it.

Modern Times is duh.  Charlie works himself into a nervous breakdown and is rehabilitated without his job.  While readjusting to life he is wrongly accused of leading a Union riot and taken to jail.  In jail he snorts smuggled coke (accidentally) and becomes a Prison hero where he is given all sorts of luxuries...including early release which he desperately does not want.  Out on the street again he is jobless, hungry and poor (and presumably homeless).  He makes several attempts at honest work (also seen in City Lights which included shit cleaning and getting beaten to death in the ring) but they all fail.  When the 'gamine' gets real work she's arrested for being underage, even though she'll just be thrown into a foster system where she will be beaten and mistreated.  They run away again and Charlie says something I've said to myself many times these last few years, "Buck up!  Never say die!  We'll get along!"

I feel very strongly that if one lined up these films to the current situation it would start with City Lights, the last few years would be Modern Times, and this current moment would be Monsieur Verdoux (you could maybe switch Modern and Monsieur but its very close.)

Monsieur Verdoux is one of those 'post Dictator' films that most people don't know.  It was mildly successful but coming in 1947, right after a horrible war and right before the good ol booming 50s were set to begin, people really didn't want to think about the theme: Capitalism causes us to eat each other.

I have friends who vow Sarah Palin is the bees knees.  And while I strongly disagree, I try to not dash too much silent film with those view points.  But in this case I don't think I would be able not to...even if I literally wanted to.

(warning: mild spoilers ahead)

Monsieur Verdoux is set in the early to mid 30s, prime Great Depression time.  It takes place in various parts of France, usually returning to Paris.  Charlie plays Henri Verdoux, a man who was once an honest and great banker for a few decades.  But then the depression.  Not only did he lose his jobs but all his savings, stocks, money, everything.  So going slightly mad he decided to take up a 'new profession': killing rich old hags for money after marrying them and taking out hefty life insurance policies.

The film opens with a particular murder (his then latest) which will eventually undo him.  Through the film we watch him 'prep' 3 or so women, and between trying to figure that out we also meet his reason: his family.  In the lovely countryside of France he has a home for his invalid wife (what's wrong with her we are never told, she's in a wheelchair.)  He has a child and has to upkeep healthcare and education costs.  So he murders.

The film hits a climax and he is inevitably caught before his finale murder (of a woman I swear to God is based on Mary Pickford...she's even named Marie).  We see his trial and boom...the film hits its greatest moment.  And while discussing Chaplin with my fellow protester this is what came to mind: the courtroom scene.

Chaplin/Verdoux is judged guilty and asked if he has anything he'd like to say.  While the words are great, Chaplin's delivery of them make it 18 times greater.  Perhaps the speech is not above the Great Dictator, but its fucking brilliant and very timely right now.  I googled 'Monsieur Verdoux speech' and couldn't find it.  So below I give you both the video and text:

Judge: Have you have anything to say before sentence is passed upon you? 

Henri Verdoux: Oui Messieurs I have. However remiss the prosecutor has been in complimenting me, he at least admits that I have brains. Thank you Monsieur, I have. And for 35 years I used them honestly. After that, nobody wanted them. So I was forced to go into business for myself. As for being a mass killer, does not the world encourage it? Is it not building weapons of destruction for the sole purpose of mass killing? Has it not blown unsuspecting women and little children to pieces...and done it very scientifically? As a mass killer I'm an amateur by comparison. 

However, I do not wish to lose my temper because very shortly I shall lose my head. Nether the less. Upon leaving this spark of earthly existence I have this to say: I shall see you all very soon. Thanks.

*claps*

Why Chaplin isn't viral by now I don't know.  But he should be.  Occupy Wall Street should replace the V masks for his...though his estate would probably sue for royalties.

***Side note: yeah I don't want to post at blogger anymore, but the new site isn't up and I figured fuck it.  It will be in time.  Don't know when.***