One of the most-adapted Simenon stories; it was also adapted as the penultimate episode of Season 3 of the BBC's "Maigret" series in the 1960s, starring Rupert Davies and as the final segment of Season 1 of the ITV series of the 1990s starring Michael Gambon. It was filmed in France in 1958 with Jean Gabin and has been adapted for French and Italian television.
A reporter compares Jules Maigret with Frederick George Abberline (1843-1929) due to his supposed failure to solve a serial killer case. Abberline was a British Chief Inspector for the London Metropolitan Police, and a leading figure in the investigation of Jack the Ripper's murders. He retired from the police in 1892, but continued producing theories on the Jack the Ripper case into his retirement.
One of Rowan Atkinson's very rare forays into "serious" roles. He has since reprised this particular role three more times (as of 2020).
At the end of the film, Maigret walks past a man who is pasting up a poster for a film at a kiosk; the film is Max Ophuls' last film, "Lola Montes". However, there is an acute accent over the 'e' in "Montes", and it should be a grave accent.
The story appears to take place in the summer of 1955, yet Maigret walks near a poster for Max Ophuls's "Lola Montes", a film which did not open in Paris until late December of that year.