A man drops a couple off at an inn near the Belgian border. The innkeeper's son recognizes the other man as Amédeé Lange (René Lefèvre), who is wanted for the murder of his former boss, the publisher Batala. Those inside the inn consider alerting the police. The woman, Valentine Cardes (Florelle), confirms Lange's identity, and recounts his story to them. Lange is a clerk for Batala (Jules Berry), who is seeking to launch a crime magazine called Javert (the name of course being an homage to Victor Hugo). Lange, an avid aficionado of the Old West, finds himself doing a pulp magazine for Batala called Arizona Jim, signing a contract without looking it over, and giving his creative rights to the publisher. Batala is a self-styled Lothario, and once had an affair with Valentine, the owner of a laundry service, with whom Lange becomes romantically involved. He also impregnates Estelle (Nadia Sibirskaïa), an employee of Valentine and the sweetheart of Lange's friend Charles (Maurice Baquet). Furthermore, he owes substantial money on a loan to a wealthy man named Meaunier. When Batala seemingly dies in a train crash, Meaunier's son (Henri Guisol), who will someday drive Lange and Valentine to an inn, comes to tell his former employees his father has bought the publishing empire, turning it into a cooperative. Arizona Jim proves to be a spectacular success for Lange. Unfortunately, someone reenters his life who threatens his happiness.
Jean Renoir's two best-known films, The Grand Illusion and The Rules of the Game, are considered by many to be among the best movies ever made. I haven't seen either yet, but if they're better than this one, they must be quite excellent indeed. Renoir's film is equal parts political commentary (with something of a socialist bent) and romance, and succeeds spectacularly as both. Lange and Valentine are a very likable couple, and Lefèvre and Florelle have great chemistry together. Jules Berry is superb, imbuing Batala with charm and slime at different times. Although we know how Valentine's story is going to end, Renoir tells it in such a compelling way that the viewer likely won't mind. I also have to give props to the props department (heh), as the covers of the Arizona Jim magazine seen in the film really do resemble the European pulp covers of the '30s I've seen, many of which were indeed of the Western genre, presaging the Spaghetti Westerns so loved by Yr. Humble Critic. I had a great time seeing this film on the big screen at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and I will definitely seek out Renoir's two most famous works!
No comments:
Post a Comment