In 1942 it was all too easy to interpret any movie set in the distant past (Les Visiteurs du soir) or in a dreamscape as here as a metaphor for avoiding the present and/or commenting obliquely on the Occupation but be that as it may both the Carne-Prevert 'Visiteurs' and this entry from Marcel L'Herbier more than stand up well when viewed today. True, Fernand Gravey was never much of an actor and, as has been noted, was too old to pass for a student - 'mature' students were more or less unknown at the time - but provided you didn't ask him to 'act' anything more demanding than bemusement he could get by. It's also a joy to see Micheline Presle in her prime - she continues to act to this day including small roles in films written and directed by her talented daughter, Tonie Marshall - and understand just why she was so prominent among French actresses. Marcel L'Herbier was, of course, himself a veteran who deserves to be much better remembered than he is and here he turns in a charming melange of comedy, drama and fantasy predicated on student Gravey being so worn out from holding down two jobs AND trying to study that he is prone to fall asleep anywhere and dream of a mysterious - but beautiful, natch - lady in white which amateur psychologists would say was trying to tell him something about his real-life unfaithful girlfriend. In a masterstroke L'Herbier allows Gravey to 'enter' his dream - paving the way for Cocteau to put spin on the technique in Orphee - and set up a story within a story with more twists than a bag of pretzels. Bernard Blier - who would also father a future director, Bertrand - is also on hand to add a little class and Saturnin Fabre chews the scenery to everyone's satisfaction. Overall a fine movie and one I'll be adding to my 'wants' list to France and Norway.
Review of La nuit fantastique
