The Day The Clowns Died

March, 2004

When movie funnymen get serious, they tend to go overboard. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn'tCharlie ChaplinMonsieur Verdoux (1947)Game plan: Silent-film phenom Chaplin pulls the king of about-faces by ditching his Little Tramp character and playing a Little Shitheel who supports his wife and son by snuffing out rich widows.Last laugh: This dark comedy outrages some Chaplin fans but points the way toward career reinvention for the likes of Robin Williams. Is this a good thing?Bob HopeBeau...