Starring Steven Geray, Micheline Cheirel, Eugene Borden, Ann Codee

(6-Good Film)

Intriguing. Surprising. Far-fetched.

Starts as a quaint provincial romance in France, as a famed Parisian detective, Henri Cassin (Geray) falls in love with the local innkeeper’s daughter. The story becomes sordid, however, once Cassin meets Leon, the girl’s jealous and violent boyfriend, and soon both Leon and the girl are found murdered. Cassin, left heartbroken, investigates the most personal case of his career. At just 70 minutes of running time, the film is awfully slight, but it’s an entertaining B-noir with an elegant style and melodramatic performances. Also, the ending is genuinely surprising if disappointing. Best viewed as an exercise in style and mood.

-Walter Tyrone Howard-

(300)