Hubert Monteilhet was a popular writer in France ,known first for his detective stories ( sometimes racy ,nay bawdy), then for his historical novels dealing with Nero or Joan of Arc .In "le retour des cendres" (exact translation of the title of the movie)which seems to belong to the first genre, Monteilhet actually combines both in a single classy novel:in "le retour des cendres" , the historical background is prominent -much more in the novel than in the movie- ; Monteilhet's books are often epistolary ,a la "liaisons dangereuses ", or based on a diary written by one of the victims : such is the case in "le retour des cendres" .Elisabeth did write a diary sent to the investigating magistrate which calls into question Stan -who is already imprisoned but for other reasons - and Fabi(enne) who is the deported 's daughter (and not stepdaughter like in the movie);After reading the manuscript,the daughter takes her own life.
This precis shows how much the screenplay wanders from the original novel :"based on Monteilhet 's book" the credits read ; the novel was sweetened: a stepdaughter is less scandalous , when both women sleeps with the husband . All that concerns the round-up of Jews and the fact that Stan is a despicable informer is kept to the minimum ,hardly hinted at; the scenes of the bath and of the safe are the screenwriters 'invention.
Ingrid Thulin is the stand-out : her metamorphosis ,from the wreck back from the concentration camps ("I was in the house of pleasures"), to the blond still attractive woman is impressive ;Maximilian Schell is the chess player who uses this game to earn his crust ,but he also makes his good looks work for him : a charmer with a winning smile ,a coward selfish buck ;on the other hand ,Samantha Eggar (who was great in Wyler's "the collector" ) seems left to her own devices and her hysterical playing gets in the way.Her role was fleshed out . Hadn't they done it ,it would have only been a supporting part.
Jack Lee Thompson's film focuses on the thriller , the historical side being only skimmed over.Thulin's portrayal of this survivor is worth a watch though.
This precis shows how much the screenplay wanders from the original novel :"based on Monteilhet 's book" the credits read ; the novel was sweetened: a stepdaughter is less scandalous , when both women sleeps with the husband . All that concerns the round-up of Jews and the fact that Stan is a despicable informer is kept to the minimum ,hardly hinted at; the scenes of the bath and of the safe are the screenwriters 'invention.
Ingrid Thulin is the stand-out : her metamorphosis ,from the wreck back from the concentration camps ("I was in the house of pleasures"), to the blond still attractive woman is impressive ;Maximilian Schell is the chess player who uses this game to earn his crust ,but he also makes his good looks work for him : a charmer with a winning smile ,a coward selfish buck ;on the other hand ,Samantha Eggar (who was great in Wyler's "the collector" ) seems left to her own devices and her hysterical playing gets in the way.Her role was fleshed out . Hadn't they done it ,it would have only been a supporting part.
Jack Lee Thompson's film focuses on the thriller , the historical side being only skimmed over.Thulin's portrayal of this survivor is worth a watch though.