Dedicated film buffs will find only three elements of interest in this
otherwise disappointing production.
1. It was shot in Anscocolor, a process originally developed in Germany
designed to compete with Technicolor which it did with some success into
the 1950's. It's use here is unintentionally amusing because in the VHS
version it has been so badly degraded that rather than full color most
of the scenes appear as sepia-toned with the exception of Burgess
Meredith's hair which is an incongruous flaming red!
Anscocolor was used successfully in a number of films during this same
era such as The Student Prince, Brigadoon, Take the High Ground (with
Richard Widmark) and The Long, Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and
Desi Arnaz.
2. The atmosphere of post-war Paris is used to good effect and is
historically interesting, but still meager compensation for a dull,
plodding narrative.
3. While Burgess Meredith is listed as the director there were actually
two others. Irving Allen, who later went on to become a noted producer, was replaced
at the insistence of Charles Laughton who then directed the scenes in
which Meredith appeared.
If you are fan of Georges Simenon's detective novels, you will also be
annoyed by Laughton's uninspired portrayal of the iconic Inspector
Maigret.....
otherwise disappointing production.
1. It was shot in Anscocolor, a process originally developed in Germany
designed to compete with Technicolor which it did with some success into
the 1950's. It's use here is unintentionally amusing because in the VHS
version it has been so badly degraded that rather than full color most
of the scenes appear as sepia-toned with the exception of Burgess
Meredith's hair which is an incongruous flaming red!
Anscocolor was used successfully in a number of films during this same
era such as The Student Prince, Brigadoon, Take the High Ground (with
Richard Widmark) and The Long, Long Trailer starring Lucille Ball and
Desi Arnaz.
2. The atmosphere of post-war Paris is used to good effect and is
historically interesting, but still meager compensation for a dull,
plodding narrative.
3. While Burgess Meredith is listed as the director there were actually
two others. Irving Allen, who later went on to become a noted producer, was replaced
at the insistence of Charles Laughton who then directed the scenes in
which Meredith appeared.
If you are fan of Georges Simenon's detective novels, you will also be
annoyed by Laughton's uninspired portrayal of the iconic Inspector
Maigret.....