happytrigger-64-390517 Reviews

Autour d'une enquête (1931)

Rare Robert "See Odd Mack"

[6/10 · 16 April 2023]

One of the very first movie directed by Robert Siodmack, master of film noir. Not yet a masterpiece, but lot of fascinating details for this very early talking : a rich quantity of sounds, fabulous casting well directed, surprising sexual connotations,... "Autour d'une enquête" was recently released on DVD in France and it seems to be a real hit for this rare Siodmack rarely broadcasted. Robert Siodmack is still considered as a great director, my favorite in his French period being "Mollenard", an unforgettable powerful drama seen in my teens, one movie that really impressed me with an outstanding Harry Baur.

L'affaire Blaireau (1932)

Before Louis de Funès,...

[7/10 · 16 April 2023]

... there was Bach playing Blaireau from the great Alphonse Allais. Bach played in 24 movies, 13 were directed by Henry Wulschleger who wasn't a well-known director. As Blaireau was the first great character Louis de Funès played with the eccentricity everybody knows, Bach played this character with much more anarchy, as if he was quite drunken, and that was really surprising, even shocking. He reminds me of the incredible Michel Simon in "Boudu sauvé des eaux" from the same period, but I just think "l'Affaire Blaireau" was directed before Jean Renoir's masterpiece. Maybe Bach anarchic character (even if very different) inspired Michel Simon and Jean Renoir, who knows? Anyway, "L'affaire Blaireau" is a rare and funny curiosity.

Birgitt Haas Must Be Killed (1981)

From 1981, another gem in a French film noir wave

[8/10 · 16 April 2023]

Yes, around 1981 were directed some memorable french films noirs. From that year, I saw "le Choix des armes" by Alain Corneau, "Garde à vue" by Claude Miller, "Coup de torchon" by Bertrand Tavernier, "Eaux profondes" by Michel Deville,... "Il faut tuer Birgit Haas" was directed by Laurent Heynemann, a lesser known director but with some accurate talent. The spy story isn't the most interesting, the script rather concentrates on the different friendship and love stories between a terrorist (Liza Kreuzer) and a loser (Jean Rochefort) manipulated by a French special agent (Philippe Noiret, perfect as always) in conflict with his partners. This is a sad, desperate and creepy story with a surpring ending.

I hadn't seen this movie since its release in 1981 and I don't think it was frequently broadcasted on French TV. Seeing it more than 40 years after, I was still amazed by Liza Kreuzer, I just wonder how better this movie could have been with Patrick Dewaere originally casted, maybe more sulfurous.

A Cat's Life (2023)

A cat movie

[8/10 · 11 April 2023]

When you have kids, you cannot miss such an intimate movie about a young girl who finds a baby cat when her family stability is broken. From indoor life in a flat to holidays in Vosges mountains, the young girl learns how a cat needs outdoor life to meet other animals, fight, play, get scared, this is how much curious is a cat. This young girl learns about herself with her kitten, it's an initiatory journey. Indoor and outdoor, the cinematography is astounding, especially in the Vosges mountains with all the wild animals. The different sounds of these animals create a magic atmosphere. The casting is fabulous, the kitten of course, and of course Capucine Sainson-Fabresse as the young vivid girl and Corinne Masiero as the eccentric friend.

If you like cat movies for kids, remember "une vie de chat" in another genre.

El Monstruo Resucitado (1953)

One of the first horror Sci fi Mexican movie

[7/10 · 11 April 2023]

Mexican horror cinema is to be discovered but few titles are available. This "Monstruo resucitado" directed by Chano Urueta is one of the first in this Mexican horror cinema wave . Though it's low budget, the script develops some surprises with the main character who has grown disfigured and is full of hate. There are even touching scenes between the masked man and the journalist. There aren't too many visual scenes, but the masked man's point of view is the main interest, how will he develop? The settings are not wide, the frames really concentrate on the two main characters, the mad scientist and his victim. For B fan movies.

Rogues' Regiment (1948)

A lesser known Robert Florey

[8/10 · 24 January 2023]

Robert Florey directed à lot of B movies and some very fine titles like "Murder in the rue Morgue", "the Beast with five fingers" (with a fantastic Peter Lorre) , "the Man behind the mask" (very original fantastic movie with again Peter Lorre, but completely forgotten) before shooting a lot of TV episodes.

This "Rogue's regiment" is perhaps not a classic but remains in the inventive visual style of Robert Florey. The introduction about the last nazis chieves is surprising. Then begins the chase of the very last unknown nazi chief by Dick Powell in Indochina in the Legion Étrangère. The cinematography is chiaroscuro with most of the sequences happening at night, very creepy atmosphere close to film noir. The casting is great with Stephen McNally frightening as the fleeing nazi and of course Vincent Price, charismatic as ever. From a story by Robert Florey, "Rogue's regiment" was written by Robert Buckner who also wrote great titles for Errol Flynn.

"Rogue's regiment" is a fine surpise.

The Divine Voyage (1929)

A great silent Duvivier

[8/10 · 21 January 2023]

Yes indeed, if director Julien Duvivier is known for his masterpieces from the thirties to the fifties, his silent period is to be discovered as his cinematographic style was yet very tough. Duvivier was around 33 when he directed this magnificent and visual tale in Brittany (in Paimpol and Loguivy-de-la-mer).

A despotic rich owner of a damaged ship sends his crew with alcohol. The ship sinks and the owner's daughter who's in love with the captain travel on ship to find the crew and her captain.

The entire movie has an inventive visual style, with lot of close ups edited vividly. It's really impressive from beginning to end, and the print is nice and easily available.

Yes, Julien Duvivier was a great French director, one of the best.

Quai des blondes (1954)

Early Michel Audiard

[6/10 · 21 January 2023]

"Quai des blondes" is an early movie written by Michel Audiard, not yet in his great period with his usual stars Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura, Bernard Blier, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Paul Meurisse,... The director is Paul Cadéac, "Quai des blondes" is his unique movie, it's far from being a masterpiece, but Michel Audiard' dialogues are sometimes punchy enough to get caught. Paul Cadéac was mainly a producer of commercial action French movies like Fantomas or OSS 117, with other collaborators like André Hunebelle, Bernard Borderie or Pierre Foucaud.

Like some American thrillers, it begins in semi documentary style, describing how cigarettes smugglers work in North Africa. Then appears playboy Michel Auclair, playing a bit like Raymond Rouleau in his George Masse adventures already written by Michel Audiard. He then meets two pin ups, Barbara Laage and Madeleine Lebeau, with who he plays the seducer. We also see Jacques Dynam, Maurice Biraud, Henri Crémieu, Robert Hossein, Dario Moreno and many others. And an unexpected tough black American smuggler. Entertaining.

Just a pity the only print available was so damaged, but still watchable if you want to discover early Audiard dialogues.

Wolf Song (1929)

Gary Cooper and Lupe Velez in love

[7/10 · 22 December 2022]

Yes, they immediately fall in love, their first sequence together is magic, it's really full of sexual intensity rarely seen in a Hollywood movie. This encounter between the rude Moutain Man and the beautiful aristocratic young Mexican woman is exceptional and will turn in a dramatic way. What a pity this rare gem isn't absolutely restored : the print is muffled and there're 15 minutes missing (maybe not the most important). But the main sequences are here, and I'm so glad to have discovered them. I never saw a silent movie with Gary Cooper, maybe I regret his voice, but certainly not the main sequences with delicious Lupe Velez I didn't know. This love story reminds me of other love stories from that period, like the Sunset, the masterpiece directed by Murnau or movies by Frank Borzage.

The story is from writer Harvey Ferguson, one friend telling me he's one of the most important American writer, but not translated in France.

Fort Dolorès (1939)

Rare French gem close to western

[8/10 · 28 November 2022]

The French editor René Chateau just released this invisible movie since more than eighty years (just one projection at the French Cinémathèque recently).

A bunch of disappointed men with women and coming from several countries work in a ranch in deserted South America without seeing any woman ("what's the address? " asked cynically a friend). Unfortunetely, in a neighbor ranch, there is a marvelous woman every man loves.

Very uncommon French movie shot just before WWII, the outside scenes in the ranch and around are shot in Camargue. These scenes can be considered as western modern scenes, with tough faces of lost men. The author Jean de Vallières was member of the Academy of Arles and wrote another movie shot in Camargue, "la Fille du Rhône". This movie reminds me of Thunderhoof by Phil Karlson, some scenes from movies by Jacques Tourneur and even Russian silent movies. The director of photography was Boris Kaufman (Jean Vigo' movies, Baby Doll,...) and some sequences are really stunning.

Tempest in the Flesh (1954)

Françoise Arnoul as a nympho

[7/10 · 24 October 2022]

From the beginning of her career, Françoise Arnoul is a most talented and sexy artist, check the movie posters from the fifties. From her first movie, Sin and desire, she played a sexy character (sometimes showing her breast which was quite unique at that time) . She was soon joined by Brigitte Bardot, Claudine Dupuis, Dany Carel,... She was sometimes directed by good directors like Henri Verneuil, Carlo Rim, Pierre Chenal, Henri Decoin and even had the chance to be directed by Jean Renoir with Jean Gabin in French Cancan.

But this "Tempest of the flesh" is only directed by a minor director, Ralph Habib and it lacks energy, but it's still uncommon to see a movie dealing with nymphomania (check also la Fenêtre d'en face, with Brigitte Bardot just before she became a star with And God created Woman). Maybe this kind of melodrama is too much old fashioned today, but Françoise Arnoul' fans will jump on this one. Ralph Habib had already directed her and Raymond Pellegrin in the "Companions of the night" , another exploitation movie.

The Return of Draw Egan (1916)

Early western masterpiece from silent era

[8/10 · 24 October 2022]

The return od Draw Egan is a 50 minutes early western from 1916 with iconic William Hart. It can be considered as a masterpiece with Hart playing a bandit becoming a honest Marshall in a corrupted town. William Hart has a luminous face with a sharp look for every situation, don't miss his fast shooting. Salloon's scenes are a success with lot of tension between the corrupted and the honest. The return of Draw Egan might be one of the very first western to present this situation we'll see in lot of later westerns, well I'll have to find titles with similar subject in that early era. And William Hart is really a great actor, I just regret he didn't go further.

Never Let Go (1960)

Richard Todd against Peter Sellers

[10/10 · 29 July 2022]

Before his great American movies like Tower Inferno, John Guillermin directed some intelligent British movies like Thunderstorm in 1956. "Never let go" was written from an original story by Guillermin, kind of "Bicycle thieves" : Richard Todd is a commercial who buys a car to be a more efficient seller, but his car is sealed by a gang directed by a very nasty garage owner (Peter Sellers) who sells the renewed stealed cars. Richard Todd desperately investigates and gets lots of problems with these hoodlums, police and even his wife. But he's stubborned and the last part is a really astounding climax (the fight is as tough as in a Phil Karlson movie with John Payne or Joe Don Baker). A must see.

All Night Long (1962)

Patrick McGoohan in a Basil Darden movie

[8/10 · 29 July 2022]

There are so many great titles in Basil Darden's filmography, with intelligent scripts about surprising subjects, just remember "the Victim". This "All night long" is another must by Dearden as we see during a night celebration an explosive cocktail with a story inspired by Shakespeare (Othello), some great jazzmen (Dave Brubeck and Charlie Mingus), Patrick McGoohan playing a dangerous toxic character, and a wonderful casting with all kind of rare and inter racial situations. The main interest is of course Patrick McGoohan, I only know him in his first great movie "Hell's drivers" (directed in 1957 by Cyril Enfield) and in the cult TV series "Danger man", "Secret Agent" and "the Prisoner". McGoohan is really nasty in "All night long", I'm very surprised some scenes weren't censored in the early 60's. Cinematography is brilliant as often in British cinema. A must see.

In 1974, Patrick McGoohan directed "Catch my soul", a hippie musical version of Othello, with Richie Havens, Tony Joe White, Bille Joe Royal...

The Night of the 12th (2022)

Realistic police investigation

[8/10 · 29 July 2022]

A new movie by Dominick Moll is to be seen, his movies being rich with surprising details. This night of the 12 is the police investigation about the violent death of Clara, a young woman who had love relations with real weird young men looking for dangerous sensations, as it often happens nowadays. Yes, the young people we see are not socially stable, most of them are real completely lost misfits. And it's quite frightening as Clara's parents are well established and happy together. This discomfort also happens in the police who has more and more difficulties to understand this new deranged society. And we understand how important are the methods for searching the unknown, and the judge played by Anouk Grinberg is important. In this realistic portrait of our modern society, the entire cast play wonderfully, with a special bravo to Bastien Bouillon as the determined police captain and Pierre Lottin as a frightening kind of hooligan.

Waterloo Road (1945)

Energic John Mills

[7/10 · 24 June 2022]

"Waterloo road" is a fine entertainment with John Mills fleeing army to see his love purchased by the young seducer Stewart Granger. John Mills is himself purchased by military police and jumps and runs with high speed energy. Lot of details on WWII in London. Cinematography by Arthur Crabtree.

Wanted for Murder (1946)

Mainly for Eric Portman

[7/10 · 24 June 2022]

"Wanted for murder" is an investigation on a serial killer. We know from the beginning his identity, and the inspector quickly suspects him, so there is no real suspense, the story is mostly predictable. There are even some clues that are not exploited, or sometimes badly. The main interest is Eric Portman, discovering his illness, but Pressburger's script could have been more precise by checking some holes in the story. Max Green's photography is a must. This movie remains entertaining.

China (1943)

Great war movie by John Farrow

[8/10 · 21 June 2022]

I'm surprised there are so few reviews for this exciting war movie directed by talented and eclectic director John Farrow who was always trying to direct intelligent real time shots. And the beginning of "China" is a masterpiece, William Bendix running through a bombed town, it's a very complex real time shot that deserves to be shown in movie universities, maybe Hitchcock saw it and used some techniques for his "Rope", or Orson Welles for "Touch of evil".

Alan Ladd plays tough adventurer David Jones (Indiana could be his cousin) in China in war with Japanese. When he surprises three Japanese raping a young Chinese girl, his hate for these invaders is at its peak as he becomes a Japanese military killer. The ultimate confrontation with a jap general is striking.

He's helped by fellow William Bendix and beautiful Loretta Young.

Maybe low budget movie, but a fast paced gem for intelligent propagenda. "China" deserves recognition.

The Railroad Man (1956)

Pietro Germi is a forgotten great director

[10/10 · 5 May 2022]

I was puzzled when I discovered "In nome della legge", kind of Sicilian western with a young new judge facing local hostilities. It was the first movie directed by Pietro Germi I saw. I just found this "Ferroviere" and seeing it was another slap in my face, with sequences rarely seen in any movie of that period. Even more important, I discovered a very impressive Pietro Germi playing a railroad driver who prefers singing and boozing in the local pub than going quietly home with his family. Imagine the point of view of his very young son, it's him who describe the story. I tried not to spoil, but there are many details and situations rarely seen or shown at that period, plus Pietro Germi's tough performance, "Ferroviere" is a must seen. Really.

5% de risque (1980)

Forgotten French crime movie

[8/10 · 4 May 2022]

This is really sad this French crime movie is forgotten, I remember how I appreciated its originality when I saw it when released. I missed the video cassette, I finally just found it and I still appreciate its originality more than 40 years after. I reckon it wasn't enough commercial and made no money, so it stayed hidden and forgotten since. We hope it will reappear soon with the blu-ray wave and editors' interest in forgotten B movies.

Director Jean Pourtalé did a great job though he was not very much experienced. Bruno Ganz was perfectly directed as a scientist taking more and more risks in his project to kill a friend's blackmailer, and it's a very surprising risk becoming more and more dangerous. Jean-Pierre Cassel is also touching as the blackmailer's victim (don't miss his fantastic "show"). It's time to release at last this hidden gem.

Patrouille blanche (1942)

Mainly for the casting

[7/10 · 24 April 2022]

An ok film with the sadistic Sessue Hayakawa as a terrorist. Nice casting in general, but the best being of course Robert Le Vigan, again and surprisingly very impressive. Some nice scenes in the mountains. Some surprising shots from a director who was far away from masters of the 30's like Duvivier.

Les miracles n'ont lieu qu'une fois (1951)

War melodrama

[7/10 · 24 April 2022]

Jean Marais falls in love with Allida Valli. They have a love affair in Tuscany. But WWII is declared, and Jean becomes a soldier. Jean loses contact with his love. Eleven years later, he decides to go to Italy to search her. He finally finds her but love has disappeared. They strongly try to find love again.

Yves Allégret had just shot his three noir masterpieces before this melodrama, rather depressing with no particular dynamy. That kind of melodrama with a love story not very convincing is not for me.

But there are some great scenes. During the war period, an officer makes a remark to Jean, this shot is fabulous, the setting is grey, just the ground and the wall with no objects, just a famous war poster. And what a great choice to shoot the love story in the romantic village of San Gimignano, not far from Firenze, with these old towers.

Yves Allégret, Jacques Sigurd and Jean Marais will do much better with "Nez de Cuir".

Balthazar (1937)

Slight provincial comedy

[7/10 · 12 April 2022]

Rich Jules Berry meets characters from south of France (what a great moment with a bartender) and help them to change their life. But who is exactly Balthazar ? Not exactly a masterpiece, but with Alerme and Charpin and others, it remains a fine entertainment in the Pagnol style, though far from it. And a perfect character for Jules Berry who steals the show, especially in the end. Shot in Ramatuelle. Now on DVD, never released before I think, OK print.

Blue jeans (1958)

A pre Adieu Philippine by Jacques Rozier.

[10/10 · 12 April 2022]

If you appreciate "Adieu Philippine" by Jacques Rozier (his first long feature about youth), you must see "Blue Jeans", a short feature shot 5 years earlier, same kind of story, two young friends on Vespa trying to pick up girls on the south French coast. They both already look like the boys in "Adieu Philippine", not very smart trying desperetly to be funny with girls to get a date. And also already Cuban Cha Cha music. That kind of movie is almost unique document in France. Enjoy.

Anna Karenina (1948)

Great direction by Julien Duvivier

[7/10 · 7 April 2022]

Yes, Julien Duvivier directed brilliantly Vivian Leigh and Ralph Richardson playing wife and husband hating each other in spite of a lovely son. Vivian has a really charming face and Ralph is so cold as an important bourgeois, they fit together as a sad couple. But I don't understand how can she be in love with Kieron Moore, handsome but woodenly inexpressive. There's also Sally Ann Howes as the touching fragile Kitty. But sadly, there's one character totally missing in the movie, it's the son of Vivian and Ralph, we see him only in one short scene, so I didn't understand why the script didn't show Vivian's love to her son, she wants to see him, but she doesn't even speak about her love for him.

The art direction and costumes are magnificent, but would have been much stronger in color (like "Blanche Fury" directed by another French director, Marc Allégret at the same time in England).

But there are enough brilliant scenes to forget those holes in production. I wanted to finish with master cinematographer Henry Alekan, who helped a lot in some most impressive visual scenes.