L'assassinat du Père Noël (1941) YTS

Reviewed by R T 8 / 10

Lovely stuff and highly subversive

lovely stuff and highly subversive

Reviewed by writers_reign 8 / 10

This has the dubious distinction of being the first release of the infamous Continental Films and top-billed Harry Baur also has a distinction but one I feel sure he would have been happy to waive, that of being the first major French actor to be tortured to death by the Gestapo within months of shooting this fine movie. Baur was a veteran actor who made his first film in 1909 and was an early - if not actually the 'first' Maigret and he graced many (77 but who's counting) fine French films with his presence. Those who have seen Bertrand Tavernier's masterpiece 'Laissez-Passer' which was set in Paris and specifically featured Continental will take extra pleasure in seeing an actual product of the company (Douce is another that should not be missed). Pere Noel is now available on DVD and I have to say that the quality is excellent. Cynics may question a 'village' in the Savoy Alps that boasts chateaux like the one here in which we half expect to see Errol Flynn duelling with Basil Rathbone such is the scope and magnificence of its great stone-flagged floors with at least one fireplace as big as the White Horse Inn. I tend to agree with the viewer who stated that the plot is flimsy and is far outclassed by the atmosphere, which is terrific though again one may wonder how a globe-maker would make a living in a remote Alpine village. These things to one side the film is a joy and though It is very doubtful whether any of the fine actors - with the exception of Baur and Fernand Ledoux - would have been known outside France even in 1941 let alone today that is one more pleasure to savour, making the acquaintance of actors who were once only names in Reference Books. This is one I'll watch again.

Reviewed by boblipton 7 / 10

A Boxing Day Miracle

We get a good look at a small village in Savoie for an hour before Father Christmas is found dead. This gives us a chance to look at all the suspects: the local Prince, Raymond Rouleau, returned after ten years' absence, suffering from leprosy which has already blighted his hand; the local globemaker who has gone from home to home as Father Christmas for three decades, the inimitable Harry Baur; his dreamy daughter, Renée Faure; her suitor, schoolteacher Robert Le Vigan; crazy Marie-Hélène Dasté, who has been searching for her cat forever; the kindly pharmaicst Jean Brochard; and the children, who believe in Father Christmas and depend on the gifts he brings. There's also a diamond stolen from the church, worth more than the entire village. All this happens before Father Christmas is found dead, and then strange things happen.Will the murderer be found? Will the diamond be returned? Will the children get their presents? All of these are of equal importance, because despite the mystery at the center of the story, all good murder mysteries are about the restoration of moral order to the universe, and this is a charming little village filled with people who care about each other. It is only the solution that can restore that order.Because this is the first film produced by Continental Films, the production company set up by the occupying Germans, there is a tendency to look on it as German propaganda. In fact, the remit of the company was to produce pure entertainment, and that is what we have here. With excellent actors under the direction of solidly commercial director Christian-Jaque.

L'assassinat du Père Noël

1941 [FRENCH]

Comedy / Drama / Mystery

L'assassinat du Père Noël

1941 [FRENCH]

Comedy / Drama / Mystery

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Lovely stuff and highly subversive

A Boxing Day Miracle

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