This gray wool coat was worn by the character Henri Verdoux portrayed by legendary actor Charles Chaplin in his 1947 film MONSIEUR VERDOUX, which chronicled the story of a charming but murderous bigamist who marries and then kills off his new wives to support his original family. Mr. Chaplin wore the jacket in numerous scenes of the film when Monsieur Verdoux visits his young son and crippled wife at their house in the French countryside, gives his wife the deed to the house and has dinner with friends before returning to Paris where his girlfriend/fiancé awaits. Also worn later in the film when Verdoux takes his “new” wife out in a rowboat with the plan of drowning her but is thwarted by the unforeseen appearance of an offshore yodeler who might witness the murder. The jacket was originally worn with a self-belt and has the original Western Costume Company tag with the handwritten name “C. Chaplin” sewn inside. MONSIEUR VERDOUX was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1948. The garment is in very good screen worn condition and comes accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the costume house.
