Il forzato di Rochefort

"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.