Pierre Fresnay worked with director Henri Decoin on 'Je suis avec toi' in 1943. They teamed up three years later for this which could not afford a greater contrast. Fresnay's reputation had taken a battering in the intervening years because of supposed sympathies with the Vichy regime prompted by his appearances in films for the German controlled 'Continental', notably 'Le Corbeau'. This despite his gallant military service in the previous World War. How quickly people forget. On his release after a brief incarceration, he made two films in 1946, the other being 'Le Visiteur' otherwise known, somewhat ironically in his case, as 'Tainted'! The film under review is excellent, building up to a stupendous finale. Armand Thirard is behind the camera and there is a marvellous score by Henri Dutilleux who seldom alas wrote for film. The intermezzo from his first symphony was used to great effect by Pialat in 'Sous le Soleil de Satan' in 1987. The performances by Fresnay and Ledoux are as expected, magnificent but they certainly meet their match in Andree Clement playing the title role. An extraordinary actress of charisma and intensity who made her mark in whichever film she appeared including 'La Symphonie Pastorale' and 'Dieu a besoin des Hommes', the latter with Fresnay. She was,tragically, to succumb to tuberculosis in her mid-thirties. A talent such as hers comes very seldom but we can at least be grateful that she is captured on celluloid. Watching brilliant actors going about their business is always satisfying and this film is no exception.
