The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany. (Wikipedia) .Unfortunately,it did not prevent the Germans from invading France in 1940.
The movie was filmed on the Maginot line -one can wonder whether it is a propaganda movie-and it is the main interest of the film today .We enter the place with its different levels ;in France ,we often hear about this line,but if you want to see how it was ,it is really the movie to chose.
Based on a Pierre Nord novel ,the screenplay is a muddled affair ;an officer,Bruchot, is jealous of one of his colleagues ,D'Espinac ,who made a more brilliant career than him ;besides he covets his wife and a quarrel breaks.The day after D'Espignac is murdered and Bruchot becomes the main suspect .It is essentially a whodunit :three officers can have committed the crime and a German infiltrated the French forces.Aristocratic Victor Francen investigates to clear his name.
Today ,the documentary side is much more interesting than the mediocre plot.
Jean Delannoy was the (obscure,nowadays) director's assistant ,and he said that this man was probably addicted to a drug (possibly cocaine)
