When watching the titles in the Arrow Blu-Ray box set Sacha Guitry: Four Films 1936-1938 (all of which are also reviewed) in 2018,I planned to view the Masters Of Cinema release of this film as well,but had misplaced the disc! Having since found the DVD,and in the mood to see more credits from the film maker,I got set for a taste of Guitry's poison.
View on the film:
Revealed in the detailed booklet to the great Masters Of Cinema edition that the movie was filmed in just nine days with the majority of it being made from one-take shots, writer/directing auteur Sacha Guitry reunites with The Rules of the Game (1939-also reviewed) cinematographer Jean Bachelet in whisking up a silky smooth Comedy glazed with The Guitry Touch.
Whilst created in a limited time, Guitry closely works with Bachelet & editor Raymond Lamy to bring out his refine theatrical stylisation, with excellent crisp wipes darting between Paul in the courtroom and the mischief-making local kids playing outdoors,to pristine close-ups on Paul's smirk as he causes chaos in the court.
Continuing to pour the dark comedic bite which became a prominent tone in his post-WWII works, the screenplay by Guitry (who breaks the 4th wall with a merry appearance in the opening) expands on his battle of the sexes recurring motif with a screenplay jam-packed with wickedly playful one-liners.
Guitry sets the poison sparkling in the snappy exchanges of tension between Paul and his wife Blandine (played by a terrific Germaine Reuver), to the lightning fast, Screwball-style back and fourth between Paul and loved by the press lawyer Maitre Aubanel (played by a superb Jean Debucourt.) Later calling this the most enjoyable experience he had making a movie, Michel Simon gives a outstanding turn as Paul, wrapping each darkly comedic one-liner with a gleeful relish served on the side with poison.
View on the film:
Revealed in the detailed booklet to the great Masters Of Cinema edition that the movie was filmed in just nine days with the majority of it being made from one-take shots, writer/directing auteur Sacha Guitry reunites with The Rules of the Game (1939-also reviewed) cinematographer Jean Bachelet in whisking up a silky smooth Comedy glazed with The Guitry Touch.
Whilst created in a limited time, Guitry closely works with Bachelet & editor Raymond Lamy to bring out his refine theatrical stylisation, with excellent crisp wipes darting between Paul in the courtroom and the mischief-making local kids playing outdoors,to pristine close-ups on Paul's smirk as he causes chaos in the court.
Continuing to pour the dark comedic bite which became a prominent tone in his post-WWII works, the screenplay by Guitry (who breaks the 4th wall with a merry appearance in the opening) expands on his battle of the sexes recurring motif with a screenplay jam-packed with wickedly playful one-liners.
Guitry sets the poison sparkling in the snappy exchanges of tension between Paul and his wife Blandine (played by a terrific Germaine Reuver), to the lightning fast, Screwball-style back and fourth between Paul and loved by the press lawyer Maitre Aubanel (played by a superb Jean Debucourt.) Later calling this the most enjoyable experience he had making a movie, Michel Simon gives a outstanding turn as Paul, wrapping each darkly comedic one-liner with a gleeful relish served on the side with poison.