Leo Joannon's films are my favorite guilty pleasure.Histrionic acting,absurd screenplays and God for everyone.
Listen to the voice-over which opens the movie:"Here's a station.Next to a station,there's generally a town;and in a town,there is love!"Much food for thought,huh? The train arrives.First the men unload the sardines ,raw material for M.Andrieu's cannery.But there's more in the train: two girls come back from winter sports (which at the time was luxury)and dad (Pierre Fresnay),if it were not enough ,presents them with jewels.Spoiled girls indeed ...However much he tried to edify them,to enlighten them,to quote the gospels (sometimes he thinks he is Jesus himself,when you listen to his words),the girls did not care.Both got married ,and of course pretty soon the marriages are on the rocks.
The several incredible moments make this film worth seeking out: -Annie has swallowed 12 tablets of phenobarbital but in the hospital the nurse tells the desperate father that it's an "accident" ;80% (?) of poisonings are accidents....
-Annie lying on her hospital bed."your feet are icy.They don't have hot water bottles here?" the fathers roars;then his daughter throws her arms around his neck and cries.
-Annie falls for a musician.Dad arranges her divorce .Alas, with the second daughter Cri-Cri ,it's love at first sight with the artist.
-Cri-Cri's husband explains to the tearful dad that she cuckolded him ,but never mind,he does not stop his clay pigeon shooting.
Pierre Fresnay who used to work with the finest directors (Pagnol,Clouzot,Renoir,Duvivier,and even Hitchcock)had a dismal end of career.
Like this?Try these.....(all by Leo Joannon) "Le défroqué" 1953 "L'Homme aux Clés d'Or "1957" Le Désert de Pigalle" 1958
