Cinq tulipes rouges

This surprising and fairly unknown movie is a treat. The plot is simple, not at all complex, and the writing and acting is likewise. But to review this based on its cinematic merits misses the point. It is a murder mystery from filmed in1949 set in and centered around the Tour de France. Filmed during the 1948 Tour, its loaded with vintage scenes and shots from the carnival that is La Grande Boucle. Plus, its entirely in French with no subtitles. Easy to follow even not knowing a word of French. I've watched it repeatedly.

The famous annual cycle race,le Tour de France,takes about 3 weeks to complete in daily stages of approximately 110 miles.The leading cyclist wears a yellow jersey (the Maillot Jaune).The race always ends on the Champs Elysées in Paris .

On the tour de France,a mysterious criminal is doing away with the "yellow jersey" men ;he leaves a red tulip on their dead bodies.Fortunately,there's a journalist called "Colonelle" (sic) and she plays some kind of French Miss Marple .Like Agatha Christie's lady detective she 's smarter than the cop and it's her who will solve the enigma.

A mystery which is not very mysterious.We guess who the culprit is about halfway through the movie.Charles Exbrayat's story recalls Steeman's novel "Six Hommes Morts" which was transferred to the screen as "le Dernier des Six" an exciting thriller by George Lacombe (with more than a little help from HG Clouzot).Besides,Jean Stelli whose Occupation's melodramas were notorious ("la Valse Blanche" "le Voile Bleu") is not up to scratch and he simply cannot direct actors,who,left to their own device,overact as much as they can.In the last scene ,René Dary -who began his career in the silent era with Louis Feuillade- verges on ridicule.