Gabin appeared in more French masterpieces than any other actor I can think of.From the thirties' golden hour when Duvivier,Carné and Renoir made him the biggest star of all time in France to the underrated fifties where his career was still interesting and full of gems waiting to be rediscovered,what a career! From the beginning of the sixties onwards ,his -artistic- ambitions began to wane.There is not a single movie in the fifteen last years that deserves to be remembered whereas virtually all (or almost all) he made in the 1934-1939 era was prodigious .
"L'année sainte" is a poor swansong ;barely entertaining ,it casts Gabin and Brialy as villains disguised as priests .Most of the action takes place on a plane where Gabin meets again "Duchesse" ,one of his former lovers.Danielle Darrieux's character is almost unbearable ,her trendy slang gets on your nerves even if ,like me,you appreciate the actress (still working as the wonderful "8 Femmes" testifies).
But anyway ,farewell,Monsieur Gabin,and thank you for everything!
