L'Homme de Londres

This is the first of three film versions of the novel by Georges Simenon and for this viewer at any rate is of greater interest, coming as it does during a particularly rich phase in the career of director Henri Decoin and its ominous, doom-laden atmosphere reflecting France under the Occupation.

Although the film is very much studio bound the mist-shrouded sets by Georges Piménoff are brilliantly evocative of a seaport whilst noirish cinematography is courtesy of Paul Cotteret. It is topped and tailed by the haunting 'L'aventure aime la nuit' sung by an uncredited Nila Cara.

The sense of foreboding is further enhanced by the casting of Fernand Ledoux and Jules Berry, two superlative artistes who bring an enigmatic presence to whichever film in which they appear. The somewhat lugubrious manner of Ledoux and Berry's air of menace are used to great effect and both their characters are practically driven to madness by a suitcase containing three million francs which the former has found and which the latter is desperate to retrieve. Excellent support from Suzy Prim as a melancholy tart seeking that elusive 'tendresse' and Jean Brochard as an Inspecteur de Police.

Monsieur Berry was to be personally effected by the Occupation as his much younger wife, actress Josseline Gael, left him for a French Gestapo officer. She stood trial for 'horizontal collaboration', was stripped of her civil rights for life and never appeared on film again.

Subsequent versions by Lance Comfort and Belá Tar could not be in greater contrast!