I was completely blown away. How do the French manage to make these precise, economical films that without any sentimentality manage to be so moving? There's a highly cinematic use of dramatic irony and mournful Eastmancolor cinematography (Pierre Lhomme) that delivers the tough, brave exploits of Lino Ventura, Jean Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret and the other Resistance members - the early execution scene is worthy of Hitchcock.
Amidst the cool development and performances it manages to be totally involving, exciting and heart-rending, marking Melville as a top-class and brutally honest auteur. It went straight into my Top 100 from this single viewing.
Afterthought: And what WW2 movie did Britain produce in this year? The Battle of Britain!
Also in cast: Paul Menrisse, Christian Barbier
Addtl. ph. Walter Wottitz
Music Eric Demarsan (wrote Belle and Sebastian in 1965!)
No comments:
Post a Comment