I'm a little bemused that some people have been beefing about Guitry's penchant for introducing his cast at the beginning of a film; but this is what Guitry DOES and to complain about it is like complaining that Frank Sinatra performed I've Got You Under My Skin in each of his live concerts (note to pedants: every life appearance AFTER 1956 when he recorded the song memorably on Songs For Swingin' Lovers); if you don't like Sinatra then why go to see him in concert and if you do like him why complain when he sings something that you both expect and want him to sing. So with Guitry; if you don't like him give his movies plenty of room and if you do like him don't beef about something you know he's going to do and which takes only two or three minutes prior to the story getting under way. This time around he elects not to appear and allows Michel Simon to take centre stage as a man stuck in a mutually hateful marriage so that even as his spouse, Germaine Reuver, is buying poison to see him off he is entertaining similar thoughts that turn practical when he discovers you can have your murder and get away with it. Many of Guitry's repertory are on hand as is Louis de Funes in an early role as Andre. If you like Guitry you'll love it.
Review of La Poison
