Le passager de la pluie

*Note: the review title in subject refers to a line from the classic song "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors. Allegedly, singer/songwriter icon Jim Morrison was a fan of this movie and it inspired him to write what is perhaps the most legendary song of the band. If this piece of trivia info is only even remotely truthful, it's enough reason to track down and watch the film!

As for the film itself, "Rider on the Rain" is an absorbing and uniquely mysterious thriller with a downright fabulous first half hour and very atypical but brilliant performance by Charles Bronson. Throughout most of the 60's, Bronson depicted supportive characters in big productions ("The Magnificent Seven", "The Great Escape", "The Dirty Dozen", "Once Upon a Time in the West") and from the mid-70's and onwards he became hopelessly typecast as a lonesome and silent action hero ("Death Wish", "The Mechanic", "Telefon"…). But what few people know is that Charles Bronson appeared in a number of vastly superior European (more specifically French and Italian) cult movies during the late 60's and early 70's, and in these films he actually illustrated intellectual, eloquent and occasionally even very sinister characters. "Rider on the Rain" truly has one of the moodiest intros ever filmed, as we witness how a tall and uncanny looking man gets off a bus in a French coastal town near Marseille. Whilst meandering in the pouring rain, he spots the feisty redhead Mellie and follows her home. He rapes the girl, but she manages to kill her assailant with a shotgun. As she has an egocentric mother and a mistrustful husband, Mellie chooses not to call the police and dump the body from a cliff into the sea. This goes well until the next weekend at the wedding of a friend; Mellie is approached by a handsome but mysteriously behaving American who asks her a lot of strange questions. This man, Mr. Dobbs, suspiciously seems to know a lot about the crime Mellie committed and brutally attempts to force her into confession.

"Rider on the Rain" actually spirals down TOO MUCH into Hitchcockian mystery/thriller territory. The first couple of encounters between Mellie (short for Melancholy, in fact) and Mr. Dobbs are truly intense and compelling because you assume that the pieces of the puzzle will gradually fit together later on. But then the emphasis stubbornly remains on secrecy and endless dialogs and we receive not the slightest bit of information in return. The film is quite long – just over two hours – and we literally have to be patient until the climax before getting any answers. Your curiosity stays, of course, and the acting performances from both Charlie Bronson and the foxy Marlène Jobert remain a joy to behold, but sadly the movie eventually is too talkative and overlong to be considered as an essential must-see in the thriller genre. This is already the second time I run into this issue with a René Clément film, actually. "The Deadly Trap" also revealed absolutely nothing of its plot until the final five minutes. Luckily enough, "Rider on the Rain" still has a fascinating concept, a strong opening and excellent performances, whereas "The Deadly Trap" was just an incoherent and pretentious mess from start to finish. Clement is often referred to as the French Hitchcock, but from what I've seen he tries to be too much of a Hitchcock copycat. I will urgently have to check out some of his older work, like "Forbidden Games" and "Purple Noon", as those are reputedly genuine masterpieces. And yet, this one still comes warmly recommended if only to see a totally different side of Charles Bronson.

Considering its huge success in France and much of Europe at the time of its release, René Clément's Le Passager de la Pluie/Rider on the Rain (which also won the golden globe award for best foreign film) has been relatively forgotten. Yet, after 50 years, the film remains a highly original, captivating thriller, filled with peculiar imagery, symbolism and suspenseful mystery. Though it has some Hitchcockian influences and makes some homages to the great master of suspense, it is really a unique mystery, unlike anything made before or after it. From its moody opening sequence in the rain, to a chilling rape scene, the film develops into an idiosyncratic intrigue, that entices the viewer largely thanks to the interactions between its two magnetic main characters, played by Marlene Jobert and Charles Bronson, both on their way to become two of the most popular stars in France at the time. The two enjoy amazing chemistry, as Bronson tries by any means to get Jobert to admit that she has killed the man who raped her and Jobert does her best to outmaneuver him. Though this cat and mouse game goes on for most of the film, the viewer's attention is maintained through some interesting plot twists and imaginative dialogue that has some amusing recurring themes. The beautifully melancholic musical score by Francis Lai greatly contributes to the strangeness of it all. What makes the story particularly meaningful, however, is that the central plot is clearly an allegory for Jobert's character's subconscious and conscious struggle as a fragile, repressed and dominated young woman, who through traumatic events, manages to eventually confront her demons and assert herself. In this sense, despite the abusive treatment of her character (interestingly named Melancholy), the film is arguably well in tune with the rising feminism of the period. Marlene Jobert's superb performance is key to the film's success. She is very convincing and charming in her girlish portrayal of this modern Alice in Wonderland, effectively conveying innocence, confusion, fright, hysteria, sadness, and a range of other emotions. Meanwhile, Charles Bronson is excellent as her enigmatic pursuer and saviour, whose real motives are not clear until more than halfway through the film. Bronson, who had recently become an international star with Once Upon a Time in the West, plays his usual tough guy persona, but with more depth and intelligence than most of the roles that would follow. Ultimately, Le Passager de la Pluie works thanks to the performances of this duo, which is maybe why it is not more remembered. Unfortunately, Jobert became much less active in films from the 1980s, while Bronson became increasingly associated with a vengeful, violent persona, rather removed from the more interesting character he plays here. Incidentally, it is worth noting that the French version of the film is more satisfying that the English one, where every-one except Bronson is dubbed, mainly because the dialogue works better in its original language.

I find it hard to say why exactly but I liked this film. It was well made, well acted and different enough that it wasn't the usual predictable Hollywood pulp. I'd recommend it for anyone who has more than a few brain cells to rub together as at least a refreshing change of pace that shows films can be both different and entertaining.

Charles Bronson has a reputation for making mostly the other kinds of films so this is very different for him. The French spin adds something hard to define but enjoyable. The female lead is wonderful to watch too.

I found I really enjoyed the sets and locations and, yes, especially the rain. Perhaps rain overdoes some moodiness in a way but I find I love to see a film with rain in it as a backdrop. Maybe that comes from living in a place where I rarely see and real rain.

Nevertheless, I'd buy this if I could find it locally, especially if it was on wide format DVD. I don't think anyone who was behind the project gave it enough support when it was a new film (I originally saw it in an "art house" cinema) and I certainly don't think the mainstream types will support it now. I think it's a rare gem of film making and deserves to be preserved, owned and watched by lots of new people. I'll keep looking for it along with other rare but obscure gems I'd love to own.

The film 'Rider On The Rain' (or, French title 'Le Passager De La Pluie') is simply a gem. But, do not buy the awful DVD from Orbit Media, released April 3rd 2006. There is hardly any colour and the print is atrocious! I have complained to Orbit and they said they are checking copies, but it is simply a case of poor quality in the Way the DVD has been made from the master. This is the worst DVD release I have ever seen. The picture is not clear enough either. I can't believe this mess. The only place you can get this film is France, but it's all in french (with Charles Bronson dubbed in French). However, the French DVD is by STUDIO CANAL and the print is breathtaking! Be warned.

Upon watching this movie I really had only the Death Wish films to rate Bronson by but after watching the "Rider on the Rain" I can understand why he was an acclaimed actor. His role in this movie was superbly amazing as the 'I know what you've been up to undercover', his acting is unbelievable and I up until this movie had never seen him act so well and have so much dialogue. Granted I'am very unfamiliar with foreign films (to me they can be confusing at times, maybe that's just a concentration problem on my behalf?) and acting back in 1970 was a whole lot different than today, but nonetheless this movie is worth having on your shelf. It always takes me a few viewings to fully grasp the concept of most films but already by watching it this first time I'am really convinced that this could be his best outing (with the exception of the first Death Wish and Cold Sweat). I still have yet to see more Bronson classics but I'm just getting started and this one definitely 'wowed' me. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is a Bronson fan, must see stuff. 9 out of 10 stars.