Verdict

In this experienced, soulless tearjerker by Andre Cayatte, the successful Italian producer Carlo Ponti lets his long-time wife and ACADEMY AWARD winner Sophia Loren (LA CIOCIARA, 1961) meet Jean Gabin (Commissioner Maigret), the veteran of French cinema.

Gangster widow Teresa Leoni (Sophia Loren) is worried: her beloved son is accused of rape and murder. Judge Leguen (Jean Gabin), who is known to be particularly principled, leads the trial. Despite all the beautiful Teresa's requests, the judge does not agree to show any special mercy to the mother's boy. Without further ado, Teresa kidnaps the judge's wife, who suffers from diabetes. Doom takes its course...

Nothing new in the plot! You quickly notice that this film doesn't have any complex characters or surprising twists to offer. It was probably just about bringing two giants of European cinema, Sophia Loren and Jean Gabin, together. If this star power is enough for you, you will be well served by this vehicle.

....And he won the case."Verdict" is however one Cayatte too many.Realism which saved "justice est faite" "les risques du metier" and solid screenplays which made "avant le deluge" or "le glaive et la balance interesting if overblown works became some kind of "enough is enough" .For the first time in his career,Cayatte included nude scenes (Muriel Catala and Michel Albertini,the doomed lovers,appear in their birthday suit during a whole sequence ,more a desire to be a la mode than a genuine artistic move!).

Sophia Loren portrays a woman whose son might have killed her lover (see above).In order to put pressure on the judge (Gabin) she abducts his wife (Gisèle Cassadessus) a diabetic,which makes the matters worse.

Watchable because of the actors.But do not expect much.

This is directed by Andre Cayatte from his own screenplay and typically from this director, moral ambiguity is under the microscope. The cinematography of Jean Badal is dark-hued and the score by Louiguy suitably low key. This is Jean Gabin's penultimate film and the gravitas he brings to the role of the judge is undeniable. Sophia Loren's performance as the mother of the accused is exemplary and her French accent very good indeed. The courtroom scenes, as one would expect from former lawyer Cayatte, are extremely well done with Henri Garcin and veteran Julien Berthau as defending and prosecuting counsels. The mother, the judge and the judge's wife, played by Gisele Casadessus, are forced by circumstances to make horrendous moral choices. It is bitterly ironic therefore that each one of them loses that which they hold most dear. Not a very comfortable watch to be sure but one should see it if only for the cast iron professionalism and star quality of Gabin and Loren. Such a pity they had not worked together before but better late than never!

I''ve waited a long time to decide to watch that rare Gabin shot by Cayatte, and my "firm conviction" was right : lousy script, boring and absolutely unbelievable. Both Gabin and Loren are dull, not concerned by their characters, I now understand why this movie is so rare, because it is absurd, pushing too far a ridiculous situation. However, there is a short but important passage in which Gabin the judge explains the law N°353 about the "firm conviction", more important than prooves. But that's all.

Of course it is not one of Cayatte's best film like _Justice est faite (1950)_(qv) or _Avant le déluge (1954)_(qv), but it is for sure a very gripping story served by a Gabin equal to himself - even though we are used to see him in this kind of role; and a very hard, yet vulnerable Sophia Loren in one of her last meaty roles (with the exception of the brilliant _Una giornata particolare (1977)_(qv)). Cayatte was in the second half of his career by then and was able to do this film with a top-notch cast after the immense success of his unforgettable _Mourir d'aimer (1971)_(qv)) about the "Gabrielle Russier case". Once more Cayatte shows the flaws in the judicial system very well as he has done in the past. A film to rediscover if you have not seen it before, you will be kept on the edge of your sit. If you have, you will take pleasure in seeing two of the best actors in the history of cinema playing together for the first and last time.