Review of Panique

I'm so glad I caught this film on the Criterion Channel. It really is masterful in characterizations and cinematography. It's a post-war warning about mob rule and how easy it is to scapegoat a "different" person.

But a couple of things, plot-wise, bother me, and I wonder if anyone else feels this way. First off, why did Hire hang on to the photo instead of presenting it to the police from the get-go? Why wouldn't he have wanted the real murderer arrested right off? He even might have been considered a hero for doing so.

Also: In the "lady wrestlers" scene, Alfred tells at least one of his friends (accomplices) that the purse is behind the radiator. Doesn't that reveal himself to be the murderer? Did his friends know he's the actual culprit? I thought this was odd, since he'd gone a long way to try to distance himself from the crime.

But in other respects, this is a fascinating, riveting film that does a satisfactory job of explaning who Hire is and his personality. It seemed clear to me that Alice had conflicting feelings about the situation, as Alfred had basically used her, and Hire was smitten with her and wanted to care for her in a genuine way.

Catch this gem if you can!