En cas de malheur

I have no doubt that every cinephile has his or her own favourite adaptation of the prolific Belgian novelist Georges Simenon. This is certainly one of mine. It is directed by Claude Autant-Lara whose last great film this was before his downward curve. Jean Gabin had long since ceased to play the underdog pursued by implacable fate and here gives a faultless performance as a well-heeled, world-weary and somewhat shady lawyer. Brigitte Bardot, in probably her best role, is the tantalising coquette with whom he becomes infatuated. Bardot herself was dismissive of most films in her career, understandably so, although I would be very surprised if this were one of them. The film is beautifully shot by Jacques Nattau with an excellent score by the director's favoured composer Rene Cloerec. Mention must be made of the divine Edwige Feuiliere, one of the greatest actresses of her generation. In one of her best film roles of the 1950's she is tremendous as the wife who turns a blind eye to her husband's peccadilloes. Her character's attitude typifies the thin dividing line between complacency and complicity. As one would expect from this director this is a well-crafted and deeply cynical piece about the frailties of human nature and is one of those films that really gets under the skin.

The two hours of this film fly by as your mind is transposed into the heads of both Yvette AND André. Director Autant-Lara's skill is that he allows you to live this story through both of his protagonists' eyes.

Almost instantly you are whisked off to 1959 in this time machine. When you're there you feel uncomfortable, the mood is tense but there's still some humour to keep you going. Unlike some films which give you a flavour of the time they were made in, this one doesn't just give you a sense of 1959, it makes your mind think like it would have in 1959. You are there, you are living in Paris at the end of the 50s, you always have and your attitudes are like neighbours.

André, played infused stoic passion played brilliantly by M. Gabin, like any man with breath in him, cannot of course resist the naive seductive allure of Mlle. Bardot. He behaves utterly stupidly but maybe because it's Brigitte Bardot who's making him do this you don't just understand but can see yourself doing this same thing as well. You find yourself living his life. It must be that empathy engendered by the cleverness of this film which makes you personally feel scared of the consequences of your actions.....even though they're the actions of a dead actor playing a fictitious role written by the guy who wrote Maigret.

Films which drag you into the story are few and far between so treasure this one.

Gorgeous Brigitte Bardot is perfect as the mixed-up, spoiled young woman carrying on with an older attorney (Jean Gabin)who sets up her own fate. Mr. Gabin has always been a marvelous actor with a commanding presence at all times. Nice music and cinematography, but it's Ms. Bardot who makes it worthwhile. Beside her looks and sex appeal, her personality always shines through and she seems very comfortable on screen, even at a young age.

A 7 out of 10. Best performance = B. Bardot. You never quite knew where this film was going to end up, but it reaches a touching ending of closure for all concerned.

Brigitte Bardot et amie invade a jeweler's shop and rob him. While they are doing so, a woman enters and complicates matters, so they knock her out. She may die. The friend is picked up, and Bardot heads to the well known defense lawyer, Jean Gabin. She has no money, so she raises her skirts. Gabin says nothing, gets her off, and then they begin an affair. Gabin is married to Edwige Feuillère. Bardot sleeps around, but says she loves Gabin, even as she has regular horizontal sessions with communist medical student Claude Magnier.

It's a last flare of Pepe Le Moko for Gabin. He's no longer the young criminal. He's older. He's solid. He's married, and Bardot is his last chance for.... if not love, then sexual obsession. Yet director Claude Autant-Lara is no poetic realist. The sexuality of his characters is not cloaked in symbols. It's Bardot walking around naked for a few seconds, it's Bardot and Magnier wearing the same sweater. To show they are linked.... and they must comment on it. There's no need for the audience to dig, it's all laid out for them, and as a result, it's less involving. The performances are great, but without the confidence of the director, there is no magic.

This is not a particularly well known movie among the anglophone crowd but it is definitely very advanced for its year of production, 1958. Yvette Maudet ("maudit" means accursed in French) as portrayed by Bardot is a constantly split personality that seems utterly unable to decide whether she wants the wealthy but old and not overly attractive Gabin or the young and handsome, but poor, Gaston. The way she enlists the services of Gabin as her lawyer is memorable and the scene so graphic and far ahead of its time that it was cut!

Curvaceous 22-year-old blonde Bardot is to die for but it is Gabin that carries the film with a masterly performance. Look out for Feuillere in role of Gabin's wife. She is apparently liberal and allows the affair to unfold and develop in the belief that her husband will eventually come back and she will remain in control of the marriage. Watch how she puts away her glasses when he comes into her bedroom so she looks more attractive to him... even though she knows she cannot compete with the much younger and voluptuous BB. Watch her loyalty to her husband as she sees him run after the mirage of young and callously carefree beauty, and she sees his business collapse and begin to affect her own life.

There is more: There is the extremely competent direction, an engrossing screenplay, and bewitching photography from director Autant-Lara and his team. It provides no happy end but this film has so much to offer that I can only encourage you to not miss it, dear reader.