Il forzato di Rochefort

A fine Balzac adaptation,featuring Michel Simon at the top of his game ,with good support from George Marchal and Madeleine Sologne.

Simon portrays Vautrin who escaped from penal colony and did not become a Jean Valjean,although a cop is hot on his heels.Disguised as a priest,he helps his protégé Lucien make his way in the posh society.He wants him to marry into money ,even if he loves someone else.Simon spins a web : it's Lucien's true love who will be the hook,a rich greybeard will be the fish and the young man will "eat the fried fish".

A splendid depiction of the wealthy society in the French nineteenth century.

This film is an excellent adaptation of Balzac's masterpieces, 'Lost Illusions' (the last part) and 'The splendors and miseries of courtesans'.

Vautrin, alias Carlos Herrera, is a convict on the run, who disguises himself as a Spanish diplomat (Carlos Herrera) after the latter is killed by his traveling companion, Calvi ('an aunt').

Vautrin sees in Lucien Chardon (de Rubempré), whom he saved from suicide, an alter-ego and an opportunity to redeem himself from the abject life he led. He wants Lucien to marry a member of the nobility. But therefore, Lucien must be the owner of an estate; so money is needed. Vautrin tries to extort the necessary sums from a rich banker who is madly in love with Lucien's mistress.

Will Vautrin achieve all his goals?

The film plays on different levels, such as the physical attraction of the 'young leader' on women (the individual), the divide between the classes (society) and money (its power, which gives one the possibility to enter the upper classes).

An astonishing Michel Simon in the role of Vautrin.

"Vautrin" is another forgotten gem in french cinema directed by Pierre Billon who did the excellent "l'homme au chapeau rond", and only one review by the usual excellent french cinema connoisseur. "Vautrin" is perfect from beginning to end, thanks to an excellent cast directed with full energy and an intelligent script with punch lines. Enjoy Michel Simon with his two faces, Jacques Varennes always excellent in the high society characters, even Madeleine Sologne in brunette is good and matches with George Marchal, I didn't recognize her after her disastrous performance in "un ami viendra ce soir" I've just seen before. And there's a dance scene with delicious dance star Lycette Darsonval, who appeared the same year in "Douce". Yes, Pierre Billon deserves recognition, he could be a great writer and a fine actor director.