User Reviews

This film is being shown as part of a short season of films with a 'Fashion' content, which is more to do with the style of a given film than its storyline. That's really by the way because for French Cinema buffs this is a chance to see an early sound film from the iconic Marcel L'Herbier and anything else - acting, photography, editing etc - is a bonus. Charles Boyer made his very first film for L'Herbier some eleven years previously and was, at this time, very active in movies - L'Epervier was one of five titles he shot in the same year. The leading lady, Natalie Paley was making her debut here which is a tad strange as her mannered performance is reminiscent of someone who had spent several years in Silent film where gesture is everything. She made another five titles in the subsequent three years and then wisely called it a day. The third leg of this eternal triangle, Pierre Richard-Wilm, actually played several leads and sometimes in distinguished films despite minimal talent. Not surprisingly L'Herbier shoots sumptuously with imaginative camera angles and sophisticated settings. The plot has married couple Boyer and Paley making a good living as card sharks playing the top casinos until Paley's head is turned by Wilm. After a certain amount of melodrama man and wife are reunited. In sum: Plot, 4 - 10, Style, 8 - 10.

"L'Épervier" is well-directed and visually interesting, yet ultimately this is a very unsatisfying film. It offers us good-looking people wearing expensive clothes in sophisticated settings, and seems to expect us to be satisfied with these. But none of the characters are sympathetic, and their activities are not engaging.

Charles Boyer, in an early role, stars as Count George de Dasetta ... although his title is probably fake, as the Count and his wife Marina make a dishonest living as full-time card sharps. (Marina, the Countess, is played by Natalie Paley, an attractive young woman whose real-life bloodlines were impressive, yet whose acting talent was minimal.) George and Marina live in luxury from the proceeds of their crooked card games, until Marina becomes attracted to handsome young diplomat Rene de Tierrache (played by Pierre Richard-Willm, another performer whose good looks exceed his talent).

VOICI LE SPOILER, TOUT DE SUITE. Although de Dasetta is a crook through and through, he sincerely loves his wife. Believing he's lost her forever, he attempts to kill himself. (This scene is vaguely ironic, as in real life Boyer later topped himself.) Marina is likewise a crook, but she likewise sincerely loves her husband. After her fling with Rene, the two crooks are reunited. They deserve each other.

I didn't care about any of these people. The movie features some impressive locations in Paris, Biarritz and Rome, but ... ultimately, so what? I don't identify with any of the characters in this film, and I don't aspire to be like them.

There's a good performance by the English character actor George Grossmith: not the author of 'Diary of a Nobody', but his same-named son who appeared in the George Edwardes plays. I'll rate this movie 3 points out of 10, and that's only because it looks so nice.