The Messenger

Raymond Rouleau was essentially a stage director ,but he also played in several interesting movies,Becker's "Falbalas" being the most notable.

"Le Messager " was already his fifth effort ,but it was 1956 ,20 years later,before he made another one,his most famous one, "Les Sorcières De Salem",Arthur Miller's celebrated play ,which he directed first on stage with the same actors (Signoret,Montand).

"Le Messager" takes place in the bush,but was entirely filmed in a studio;it suffers accordingly.

A love triangle :Gabin,,Gaby Morlay and Jean-Pierre Aumont ,the romantic male lead of the era. The love story is undistinguished;the best scenes are to be found in the Africa segment where Aumont falls in love with his mate's wife he has never seen.The moment when the young lad hears her voice ,coming from nowhere ,climaxes the movie.In this atmosphere of intense heat,fever and frustration,it really makes sense.

Coming at a time when the French cinema went from strength to strength,"Le Messager" fell into oblivion ,but might possess considerable appeal for Gabin's buffs.