This movie was made in 1939 but enjoyed its success during the occupation. There's a long edifying warning at the beginning of the movie.
A pimp and drug trafficker just for fun seduces a pure and chaste young maid who works in les galeries Lafayette , a famous department store ;but as it often happens, if one is to believe the screenwriters, he falls in love with her and dreams of a brand new life with her; but a rival ,the sinister-looking Fernand, is jealous and goes out of his way to thwart their romance.....
largely inspired by Marcel Carné's masterpiece "le jour se lève" , it cannot hold a candle to it, but the cast is appealing : Albert Préjean was a singer and he performs "la valse à Dédé de montmartre " ,accompanying himself on the accordion : he's credible as a cardboard big-hearted bad boy; Le Vigan is as excellent as ever as the villain ;Line Noro shines in the scene when she implores the young girl to give her back her "husband".
The Préjean/Le Vigan fight in the night is well directed.
