This is a story about a real-life criminal turned private detective character - Eugéne Vidocq – set in C18th and C19th France. George Sanders plays the character but unfortunately, things are rushed as we skip forwards and Sanders sleepwalks through the film in a lacklustre manner. We also mistakenly get two comedy characters who are given significant roles – Akim Tamiroff (Emile) as murderous sidekick and loyal admirer of Sanders carrying out duties such as dressing his buddy and generally admiring him, and former chief of police Gene Lockhart who is inexcusably meant to lend yet more comedy to proceedings. Add to that a completely wet fish love interest in the form of Signe Hasso (Therese) and the film is not stacking up well.
The best in the cast by a mile is gold-digger showgirl Carole Landis (Loretta) and she boosts the watchability single-handedly. Unfortunately, she is not in the film long enough. Given there is quite a slight storyline to the film, her moments are all memorable whether it be her singing performance (the best moment of the film) or her dialogue delivery and acting gestures which provide the only moments of true comedy.
The makers of the film should have made this story more true to life and informed the audience more about this Vidocq character. I have no doubt it would have been a far more interesting story. He has a fantastic legacy and very engaging life story if you read up about him.
The best in the cast by a mile is gold-digger showgirl Carole Landis (Loretta) and she boosts the watchability single-handedly. Unfortunately, she is not in the film long enough. Given there is quite a slight storyline to the film, her moments are all memorable whether it be her singing performance (the best moment of the film) or her dialogue delivery and acting gestures which provide the only moments of true comedy.
The makers of the film should have made this story more true to life and informed the audience more about this Vidocq character. I have no doubt it would have been a far more interesting story. He has a fantastic legacy and very engaging life story if you read up about him.