Café de Paris (1938)

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

For someone like me, English born and bred but hopelessly addicted to French movies, this is, in many ways, the pick of the crop, the modest, unassuming 'domestic' fodder, not meant for the festival circuits, not laden with 'international' stars - Gabin, Chevalier, Signoret, Fernandel - as familiar in Nantucket as Nantes, not 'signed' by Cocteau, Renoir, Clair, or swollen with 'significance' but just a jolly good solidly constructed piece of entertainment with reliable names in front - Jules Berry. Julian Carette, Pierre Brasseur - and behind - Yves Mirande, Georges Lacombe - the camera. A heady combination of thriller and satire, shot partly on location in the real Cafe de Paris on Rue Oktoberkampf, reeking sophistication; what more could a French film buff ask.

How many directors had this film? It has been told --by Georges Lacombe himself-- that Yves Mirande never put a toe on the set. And we see Robert Vernay as technical adviser and writer too...Anyhow, it's good, and most of the time very good.The story is set as a classical whodunit in a closed room: it's New Year's eve, in a very posh and trendy café (Le Café de Paris, set in the 11th "arrondissement" of the French capital city). Big names are gathering there, and "poules de luxe" and other wannabees too, attracted by the light, the glamor and the perspective to make useful connexions.One Lambert (Jacques Grétillat), press tycoon and feared black-mailer, is especially sought after. He arrives, short before midnight, his mistress with him. Many people around have already told all the evil they wished him, and among them some corrupted industrialists, an ambassador, journalists, a man who has been refused Lambert's daughter (Pierre Brasseur), an aristocratic go-between (Maurice Escandé)... and Lambert's own wife (Véra Korène), who is in the Café de Paris with her lover (Jules Berry) who doesn't know she is Lambert's wife.Midnight, the light goes off (to permit each and everyone to kiss his/her partner)... and when the lights are on again, the horrified attendance discovers that Lambert has been stabbed to death.Fortunately, there is a police superintendent (Jacques Baumer) already in the place.One victim, one (and then three) inquirer... but so many possible murderers...It's a treat. Many subplots are going on, all supported by brilliant and funny dialogs, among which the regular phone calls of a journalist (Carette) to his redaction, giving step by step the progress of the inquiry in an emphatic tone.Most of the (very numerous) cast is at his best. Above all of them, Jules Berry, rather restrained here, hence more efficient than ever, and the rare and subtle Véra Korène, acting with a 'natural' rarely seen in those times.Special mentions for Pierre Brasseur, Jacques Baumer, Carette, and Simone Berriau who is astonishing and excellent.To me, it's the best of the movies signed by Yves Mirande. Try to catch it!Didier_Fort at hotmail.com