"Maigret voit rouge" is based on a novel by Georges Simenon, whose popular and prolific oeuvre inspired quite a lot of adaptations. The role of Maigret is performed by Jean Gabin, one of French cinema's "monstres sacrés", who dominates the rest of the cast with a natural ease. In terms of talent and charisma, he towers over them like the Colossus of Rhodes.
The movie is probably best described as workmanlike : it tells a coherent tale of the "policier" variety with a beginning, a middle and an end, while delivering some thrills and suspense. However, it lacks the kind of inner fire or abundant imagination that would lift it to a higher level. The characterization too could be sharper or subtler ; for instance, there's the beginning of what seems like a captivating character (to wit a doctor who treats criminals, even fugitives actively looked-for by the police) but as a viewer you don't actually get to know the man.
People who know both French and English will notice a disparity between the quality of the French-language and the English-language dialogue. The dialogue spoken by the French characters is normal enough, but many of the American characters sound like Neanderthal caricatures escaped from some very bad and very cheap 1930's hardboiled gangster movie. Now I'm willing to concede that most career criminals don't shine through their wit, literacy and eloquence, but still.
The movie is probably best described as workmanlike : it tells a coherent tale of the "policier" variety with a beginning, a middle and an end, while delivering some thrills and suspense. However, it lacks the kind of inner fire or abundant imagination that would lift it to a higher level. The characterization too could be sharper or subtler ; for instance, there's the beginning of what seems like a captivating character (to wit a doctor who treats criminals, even fugitives actively looked-for by the police) but as a viewer you don't actually get to know the man.
People who know both French and English will notice a disparity between the quality of the French-language and the English-language dialogue. The dialogue spoken by the French characters is normal enough, but many of the American characters sound like Neanderthal caricatures escaped from some very bad and very cheap 1930's hardboiled gangster movie. Now I'm willing to concede that most career criminals don't shine through their wit, literacy and eloquence, but still.