Cherchez la femme

What are the main features of the usual crime/drama/thriller/comedy piece? Shootouts, blood, driving through the busy streets after the criminal or chasing him in the dark passages, foul language full of dirty words and sexual sayings... If there are no such things in the flick, it should be a senile "Ms Marple" piece of entertainment which cures insomnia all right. So, which class does this thing belong? Quite unexpectedly, to some other class. To the class of the movies where the actors create magic with the help of their talent. They don't need cheap tricks, sophisticated CGI, bloody shootouts, wisely choreographed fist-fights (though there is a cute one near the very end), etc. What they need is just one room where they can construct a detailed world of human emotions.

I won't come any further into the nuances, because this film gets right under the skin, fascinates and entertains.

A perfect job, which quite definitely deserves a few Oscars ("French Connection" is a pile of pulp if compared to this filmed story, in my very humble opinion) - 10 out of 10. Thank you for attention.

This is a Soviet adaptation of a French mystery play. It is overlong (almost two and a half hours) and has a number of slow moments. It does grow on one, a bit, over time, however. I had little interest in it until maybe 45 minutes into it. If you are familiar with any of the stars that will be a positive.

It is all about an office happening and there's a dead body eventually. The Police inspector (Leonid Kuravlyov) isn't convincing to me as an inspector so that detracted from my engagement in this, but those who know this actor might enjoy his performance.

PS: If this movie is a 10 then The Irony of Fate (Ironiya sud'by, ili S lyogkim parom!) is a 12 and Murder on the Orient Express (1974) is a seventeen (to just make 2 comparisons off the top of my head).

Light, sparkly, witty detective-comedy performed by Soviet film and theater "dinosaurs". Brilliant performances, airy-light improvisations, word and movement humor of the highest grade. Film is witty, funny and elegant. Not for the blockbuster fans.

Film is based on the French play "The Parrot and the Chicken" by Robert Thom, which, in turn, is an adaptation of the play by the British playwright Jack Poplewell "Mrs. Piper leads the investigation". The picture has all the features of a detective (no wonder the subtitle says: "The story of a murder"), but there is also a lot of comedy in it. Funny features are exaggerated in the characters ' characters, and the director's intonation shows irony in relation to the cliches of the detective genre. The intrigue of the film keeps the audience's attention, but comic touches now and then discharge the suspense, give a somewhat silly tone to what is happening on the screen.

I first watched this film when it came out on Russian TV screens, then owned a copy on video watching on average twice a months up to the point that the cassette was completely worn out. I bought another copy to bring back with me to the UK when I moved, that one is also now deceased, so have since ordered a DVD. I just can't live without this film!!! It exudes positive energy, cast is superb, and just one of those films that one can watch over and over again and never get tired, especially if you fancy yourself as an amateur sleuth like Alice Postique!!! And what's amazing the whole film is shot in one room, just goes to show that it's not always necessary to go to great expense to produce an excellent movie.