A fine Balzac adaptation,featuring Michel Simon at the top of his game ,with good support from George Marchal and Madeleine Sologne.
Simon portrays Vautrin who escaped from penal colony and did not become a Jean Valjean,although a cop is hot on his heels.Disguised as a priest,he helps his protégé Lucien make his way in the posh society.He wants him to marry into money ,even if he loves someone else.Simon spins a web : it's Lucien's true love who will be the hook,a rich greybeard will be the fish and the young man will "eat the fried fish".
A splendid depiction of the wealthy society in the French nineteenth century.
Simon portrays Vautrin who escaped from penal colony and did not become a Jean Valjean,although a cop is hot on his heels.Disguised as a priest,he helps his protégé Lucien make his way in the posh society.He wants him to marry into money ,even if he loves someone else.Simon spins a web : it's Lucien's true love who will be the hook,a rich greybeard will be the fish and the young man will "eat the fried fish".
A splendid depiction of the wealthy society in the French nineteenth century.