 Before production started, approval was refused by the MPPDA (now  the MPAA) under the Production Code (Hays Code), labeling the  scenario, still called "A Comedy Of Murders", in their words  "unacceptable". They continued, "In his indictment of the system  and the social structure, the filmmaker offered a rationale of  Verdouxs crimes, in terms of their moral work." Worst of all the  board also considered Verdouxs attitude toward god "blasphemous".  In a letter of response, scene by scene, Charles Chaplin (qv)  upheld his screenplay again the charge of subversion, but only  giving in on details. For example, when one of Verdouxs wives  invites him to "come to bed" the line had to be replaced with "get  to bed". Chaplin had no trouble getting around such proscriptions,  as he did with Verdouxs morning