An escaped murderer (Henri Vidal) finds refuge in the cellar of a poor artist's house, where the artist and his derelict friend (George Brassens and Pierre Brasseur) help him out. The film is notable because of its cast - legendary singer Brassens in his only movie appearance, Vidal in a comeback film after one of his many rounds of rehab, and Brasseur in a lovable role that's both comedic and heartfelt. Dany Carrel is also strong as the smart young barmaid who uncovers the secret but then finds herself falling in love, and my goodness, she's stunning besides.
At its heart, and in a lighthearted way, the film examines the limits of selfish and selfless behavior. It's a little stagey in its story-telling and probably too light to be considered film noir, but the biggest issue is in character motivation - it just doesn't seem likely that the irascible character Vidal plays would get such help, and for so long. On the other hand, it's quite watchable, and it engages us early on, with Brassens singing a couple of songs while strumming his guitar, and Brasseur cleverly sneaking drinks from the local bar. He also steals ten cans of foie gras for his friend, and something about how he hurries around with them, then has to hide them from the police by tossing them out the window tickled me. He's a character whose laziness and mooching make him hard to like early on, but whose kindness and unrequited love make us feel for him as the film plays out.
Director René Clair tells the story well and gives us some nice shots, such as a scene of kids running around in the streets chasing and pretending to shoot at each other while Vidal's backstory is related. He also blends comedy, romance, and drama in a warm, entertaining tale.
