Pasteur

For his first movie, Sacha Guitry chose the greatest part of life of the most well-known and important french scientist, Louis Pasteur. And he plays his character perfectly, as always. In fact, Guitry co directed it with Fernand Rivers, maybe he was too inexperienced with shooting, though he had already directed two documentaries. There aren't the usual inventive editing we see from his second movie "Bonne chance", but Pasteur's character played by Guitry is hypnotizing and many scenes are puzzling or touching, like the confrontation with medicine men (we discover how a great scientist surpasses himself) or that very sensitive scene with the kid he has vaccine against rabies. I'm glad that Sacha Guitry is not forgotten, his plays are still showed in theatres with success.

If we do not count "Ceux De Chez Nous" a documentary he made in ...1915,"Pasteur" can be considered Guitry's first effort.

You cannot compare it to William Dieterle's "the story of Louis Pasteur,because it's boiled down to four or five moments in the scientist's life and it only lasts about 70 min.

Guitry's touch is already present,in the cast and credits "written" in the past historic -which today is quite relevant- ,in the first sequence in which the director/actor presents the great man,displaying his drawings .Guitry portrays Louis Pasteur himself,and we can already feel his genius:all that remains to be added is his incredible wit and sense of humor.The tone is really solemn in the conclusion ,and the scenes with Joseph ,the Young Shepherd he cured when a rabid dog bit his leg-today ,the scientists and the historians are more doubtful as to this vaccine-.The scenes with Joseph are close to hagiography ,but Guitry wins over his audience ,as he wins over his colleagues in the first scenes .The final words express hope that some day science and peace will walk hand in hand much to humanity's happiness.