Maigret (TV Series) Maigret tend un piège (1996) User Reviews

Great film version of the book

[andreygrachev · 9/10 · 23 December 2008]

We were very glad to see both Maigret series directed by Juraj Herz in 1996. The director is famous for his surreal, psychedelic, necro movies. He is awesome in every work he presents. Horrors, comedies, war films, sci fi, mystery, fairytale- everything is outstanding in our opinion. These very moody and music like detective-stories with great actors and very close to the book visionary. Both films have suspense and mystery in solving the ordinary crimes. It reminds Italian thrillers. The series were shoot in France and have those Paris atmospheres and people. Great calm music. Good acting. Everything looks very stylish.

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Another outing for the Trap!

[Tony-Holmes · 9/10 · 29 November 2023]

Just saw this on the Talking Pictures channel (UK) - we've seen all the other British TV Maigret series, Rupert Davies in the 60s (BBC B&W, Simenon's reported favourite), Gambon in the 90s, and the more recent ones with Rowan Atkinson as a rather skinnier Maigret!

I just read the other 3 reviews, one by Grachev ("great film version") is quite funny, praising the "shot in France, Paris atmosphere and people". In fact the Cremer series had most location shooting done in Prague or Budapest (the latter was also the setting for the terrific Gambon episodes, 12 in all, featuring many Hungarian actors & technicians). So much for that fan?!

Reviewer Whalen rightly says this book has been very popular for TV films, all the British versions did this story. Davies had just an hour to find the killer, but the 2 ITV versions had rather longer, Gambon about an hour and 20 mins, Atkinson nearly 2 hours. The latter 2 went very thoroughly into examining the characters of the killer and his female relatives, and were in no way overshadowed by this French version. Gambon especially showed how to get in their heads, and that one had 2 very strong female performances, and a much more nuanced killer. I can't believe Whalen has actually seen all the versions, to reach that conclusion!

The British versions didn't bother showing us all the previous murders, so saved a little time, didn't detract from the story, we soon knew the background! One continual irritation with this French version is that Maigret's trusty R-H man, Lucas, (almost ever present in the books -- and I've read a lot, though not all) hardly ever features in them. Bizarre!

"He seemed to be in pain."

[garywhalen · 10/10 · 24 October 2023]

"Magret Sets a Trap" is one of the more often filmed Inspector Maigret novels. The movie version starring the great Jean Gabin is a delight. (Who wouldn't want to see one of the greatest ever movie actors-Gabin--as Maigret.) But there are times the script of that film goes off the rails. British TV versions are nice, I guess, but they focus on the basic plot points and miss the depth of the story. One doesn't read George Simenon's Maigret mysteries simply for setup, epiphanous moment, and denouement. I would say the same is true of watching Maigret. Getting to and finding out "Who did it?" matters, yes, but only a bit. The best parts are the lingering moments in between. This episode, in the splendid series starring Bruno Cremer as Maigret, may be the best Maigret story on film I've ever seen.

The murder of four women on the streets of Paris has the populace alarmed. The newspapers are looking for any angle to the murders and the ongoing investigations they can find. Maigret will use these journalists to help set the trap. So, from the start we have a horrible collection of crimes and a plan to catch the killer. But then the story becomes a police procedural one with a small bit of clothing providing a clue that allows Maigret eventually to move closer to the suspect. But then we are provided a psychological drama played out between Maigret, the suspect, and two relations of the suspect. It's quite a story, and the beauty of this film is that it captures it all.

Each scene is perfectly scripted, perfectly paced. The acting is on target throughout. Pay close attention when the suspect is in Maigret's office. Watch as the suspect arranges items on a desk or (almost outside the frame) twitches a leg up and down. That's brilliant stuff. The script and the actors treat the story with the respect it deserves.

Don't miss this one.

Cremer de la Cremer

[writers_reign · 6/10 · 25 October 2013]

This is the fourth of the Bruno Cremer 'Maigrets' I've seen and by far the best. it may be that this one features more actual 'action' whilst the other three were virtually post-mortems of crimes committed either in the opening sequence or even BEFORE the opening sequence. This particular title is also one of the Mairgret novels that is often remade and although it would be virtually impossible to eclipse the Jean Delannoy-Jean Gabin big screen version dating from the nineteen-fifties that should not prevent other teams having a go. We also need to realize that new generations of filmgoers may be unfamiliar with previous Maigrets whether on the large or small screen and that names like Pierre Renoir (the very first), Harry Baur (the best), Albert Prejean, and even Gabin, will mean nothing. For those viewers this will make a fine introduction.