Themes: Murder Investigations, Musician's Life, Clearing One's Name
Main Cast: Louis Jouvet, Bernard Blier, Suzy Delair, Simone Renant, René Blancard
Release Year: 1947
Country: FR
Run Time: 106 minutes
Plot
Following a three-year suspension from filmmaking after his Le Corbeau (1943) was judged too critical of his native France, director Henri-Georges Clouzot returned with this thriller that's equal parts crime drama and character study. Suzy Delair stars as Jenny Lamour, an ambitious music hall singer who wants to be a star and is willing to befriend the lecherous old men who ogle her act, inspiring the jealousy of Jenny's husband Maurice Martineau (Bernard Blier). One particular fan of Jenny's is a wealthy financial backer who extends repeated invitations to the entertainer to join him at fine restaurants and his expansive mansion. Armed with a gun, Maurice goes to the estate to confront his rival one night but discovers that the master of the house is already dead, his wife having smashed a bottle of champagne over his head to stave off a sexual advance. Soon, a gruff but dedicated detective, Inspector Antoine (Louis Jouvet) is on the case, with Maurice taking the heat for Jenny. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
René Blancard - Police Commissioner; Charles Dullin - Brignon; Pierre Larquey - Taxi driver; Jeanne Fusier-Gir - Hat check girl; Claudine Dupuis - Manon; Robert Dalban - Paulo; Charles Blavette; Raymond Bussières - The caid; Gilberte Geniat; Annette Poivre; Francois Joux; Arius; Jean Durand - Picard
Credit
Noel Meadows - Consultant/advisor, Harry L. Ober - Consultant/advisor, Jacques Fath - Costume Designer, Serge Vallin - First Assistant Director, Henri-Georges Clouzot - Director, Charles Bretoneiche - Editor, Charles Clement - Editor, Francis Lopez - Composer (Music Score), A. Hornez - Songwriter, Francis Lopez - Songwriter, Max Douy - Production Designer, Armand Thirard - Cinematographer, Louis Wipf - Production Manager, Max Douy - Set Designer, Henri-Georges Clouzot - Screenwriter, Jean Ferry - Screenwriter, Stanislas-André Steeman - Book Author
Jenny Lamour (Delair) wants to succeed in the theatre. Her husband and accompanist is Maurice Martineau (Blier), a mild-mannered but jealous man. When he finds out that Jenny has been making eyes at Brignon, a lecherous old businessman, in order to further her career, he loses his temper and threatens Brignon with death. Despite this, Jenny goes to a secret rendezvous at Brignon's apartment, who is murdered the same evening. The criminal investigations are led by Inspector Antoine (Jouvet).
