Obsession

Films featuring trapeze artists have always exerted a strong fascination for filmgoers as they feature glamour, excitement and of course danger. This is an occupation in which there is little margin for error and in which it can all go horribly wrong. Add to this the ingredient of insane jealousy and you have ready-made drama. The novel 'Silent as the Grave' by William Irish has been adapted for Jean Delannoy's first film in colour and it looks absolutely glorious. There is also an excellent score by Paul Misraki. Raf Vallone and Michele Morgan are very convincing on the bars and she is especially lissome. Former footballer Vallone has given many strong performances through the years not least as Eddie Carbone in 'A View from the Bridge' . Here he convinces as a man whose jealousy, compounded by the demon drink, causes such devastation to the lives of others. Morgan is stupendous as the wife who tries to protect him at such a terrible emotional cost to herself. He really does not deserve her. All-in-all a gripping, well-directed film with two charismatic leads. The greatest film of this type is indisputably 'Variety' of E. A.Dupont which has never been and will never be surpassed.