Scandale (1948)

movie

(18)

Country: France
Genres: N/A
Release: 1948-12-01
Director: René Le Hénaff
Writers: Pierre Léaud
Language: French
Stars: Paul Meurisse , Odette Joyeux , Albert Dinan , Henri Charrett , Charlotte Ecard , Marcel Lupovici , Philippe Olive , Marcel Pérès (1898–1974) , Lucien Pascal , Roger Saget
Runtime: 90 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: Scandale , Scandale (France, French Republic) , Scandal (United States of America)
Plot: Like in his previous " le mystère saint-val " (1944), René Le Henaff ,an editor turned director ,smartly blends light comedy with whodunit cum film noir.And "scandale " is really entertaining,you can trust Kinsayder ,a genuine connoisseur of le cinema français .Why "scandal" ? because a woman running a nightclub in the forties ,it was not proper ; this bossy lady was first horribly stuck-up , taking piano lessons with a handsome and tight-up teacher , phoning to would be countesses ;when she learns she 's Jo Le balafré (scarface Jo ) 's heiress ,she is first contemptuous ; she finds it hard to be a shady person's niece ,and she reluctantly accepts to run the place .It may have feminist accents,but she has to pretend to be an influential mysterious wealthy man's wife to be fully accepted .The thriller takes a back seat to comedy in the first two thirds of the movie : and it superbly works;Odette Joyeux has talent , beauty and dynamism going for her ,and she can teach a lesson or two to those tough guys .Philippe Lemaire ,wearing glasses which makes him look intellectual, although cast against type, gives a good portrayal of a young clumsy man, still under his papa's thumb (many of his scenes end with "yes,papa") .Paul Meurisse's appearance is a long time coming,but he is true to himself ,with his famous deadpan look (he has no equal in the French cinema ): he's an actor subtle enough to disturb us: is he a villain (as in "les Diaboliques") or a villain -in-disguise (such as his memorable part of a prosecuting attorney in "La Vérité") or the heroine's protector ?The last third comes back to whodunit and suspense ,although disturbed by the young teacher 's appearances ;those comic relieves are not pivotal, for the comedy side predominates:the whodunit side looks like a farce ,when you know who pulled the strings.You do not change a winning team : nonchalant Meurisse and peppy Joyeux would meet again the following year in another comedy-cum-thriller " Dernière Heure Edition Spéciale"
IMDB:tt0207724