Marilyn Nash, who played the girl in this scene, passed away this October. She was a highly intelligent woman who had intended to become a doctor. She wasn't meant for an acting career, but had a successful career as a casting director, and was a valuable source of information about the time she spent in Hollywood, granting numerous interviews over the years.
Even though Mon. Verdoux is not considered one of Chaplin's successes, this one scene for me crystalizes his greatness. He played a conscienceless killer of women he considered shallow, superficial and selfish, but because of the added dimension of the character played by Marilyn Nash, he chose to play god and spare her life, instead of poisoning her like the others. He paid her the ultimate compliment of letting her live, when he could have easily killed her and gotten away with it.
Marilyn Nash, who played the girl in this scene, passed away this October. She was a highly intelligent woman who had intended to become a doctor. She wasn't meant for an acting career, but had a successful career as a casting director, and was a valuable source of information about the time she spent in Hollywood, granting numerous interviews over the years.
kamilla1960 3 months ago
@kamilla1960 And this role she played superbly.
vagabondz 3 months ago
Even though Mon. Verdoux is not considered one of Chaplin's successes, this one scene for me crystalizes his greatness. He played a conscienceless killer of women he considered shallow, superficial and selfish, but because of the added dimension of the character played by Marilyn Nash, he chose to play god and spare her life, instead of poisoning her like the others. He paid her the ultimate compliment of letting her live, when he could have easily killed her and gotten away with it.
Adkturn 10 months ago
Thank-you for the support, kfarm2001.
mbulseco 2 years ago
You're right mbulseco. My love for Chaplin makes me ultrasensitive to his shortcomings, which his detractors have used to attack him....
kfarm2001 2 years ago
Try to think of what it is instead of what it isn't.
mbulseco 2 years ago
This scene reminds me of how this could have been a much greater film if Chaplin had not tried too hard to make it a comedy!
kfarm2001 2 years ago
Well it had some great funny moments. And the serious part reached its goal I think.
vagabondz 2 years ago
Fact- The line "i like women, but I don't admire them" was re-used in his next film Limelight, when he described the theatre and the audience.
orbison 2 years ago
Lovely scene, I only wish the girl had been a better actress. And the scene could well have been longer.
kfarm2001 2 years ago
At least the girl is very nice and makes a person to sympathize her.
vagabondz 2 years ago