Melodie celesti

They do not do films like that anymore.

Georges Lacombe was a commendable director who made good thrillers ("le Dernier des Six" which owed a lot to (Henri-) George Clouzot)or interesting films noirs ("Leur Dernière Nuit" "La Lumière d'en Face") "Les Musiciens du Ciel" was a hymn to the Salvation Army -the year before,Julien Duvivier made Micheline Francey a Salvationist in "la Charette Fantôme" -.

René Lefèvre ("L'Ane de Buridan" "Gueule d'Amour" "Le Crime de Monsieur Lange") portrays a two-bit hoodlum .One day when he was pretending to be blind to beg for some money,he met a Salvationist (lieutenant!) (Michèle Morgan).he fell for her and became her assistant. Soon he would array himself in the Army's uniform.

Although the hero is in love with lieutenant Saulnier ,there are no kisses,no real love scenes between them.And there's a colorful character in the charitable organization:Michel Simon as captain Simon (sic) who tells the prodigal son's tale in his own way ,and his narration is worth the price of admission.

But TB strikes .As the "Mon Beau Sapin" traditional is sung by the whole congregation ,"they take her to Heaven" Simon says(no pun intended).

They don't do films like that anymore.