Le fauteuil 47

Prolific comedy writer Louis Verneuil who took his own life in 1952, was a skilled practitioner of that specialised and particular genre known as 'boulevard theatre'. Here he has adapted his play of 1923 which is directed by Fernand Rivers who is likewise steeped in this sort of material. In this comedy of 'misunderstandings' Rivers has the services of Raimu, Francoise Rosay and Andre Lefaur. These three are not only larger than life but supreme masters of their craft. Raimu had already dazzled as Cesar and was soon to give us one of his greatest characterisations as Aimable in 'La Femme du Boulanger'. His performance here as Juste, a teacher of gymnastics(!) is utterly priceless. Mlle Rosay is ideal as une artiste dramatique and Andre Lefaur again excels as an ineffectual aristo. It is so easy to dismiss this as 'filmed theatre' but comedy like this is notoriously difficult to bring off and although the content might be dated, the execution of it and the impeccable artistry on display are timeless.