Le fauteuil 47

Prolific comedy writer Louis Verneuil who took his own life in 1952, was a skilled practitioner of that specialised and particular genre known as 'boulevard theatre'. Here he has adapted his play of 1923 which is directed by Fernand Rivers who is likewise steeped in this sort of material. In this comedy of 'misunderstandings' Rivers has the services of Raimu, Francoise Rosay and Andre Lefaur. These three are not only larger than life but supreme masters of their craft. Raimu had already dazzled as Cesar and was soon to give us one of his greatest characterisations as Aimable in 'La Femme du Boulanger'. His performance here as Juste, a teacher of gymnastics(!) is utterly priceless. Mlle Rosay is ideal as une artiste dramatique and Andre Lefaur again excels as an ineffectual aristo. It is so easy to dismiss this as 'filmed theatre' but comedy like this is notoriously difficult to bring off and although the content might be dated, the execution of it and the impeccable artistry on display are timeless.

There are two monstres sacrés:Raimu,without his Provençal accent for a while ,and Françoise Rosay .

This movie is proof positive that two great thespians cannot always save a film.Based on a play,it is very bad filmed stage production.The cock and bull story involves an actress,her ex-husband ,a gym teacher ,her lover, a baron,her spoilt daughter who has just married one of her mom's fans (but mom did not know he was an admirer).The plot revolves around cuckolds,mistaken identities , lovers and mistresses.Louis Verneuil's lines are far from Henri Jeanson.

Fernand Rivers sank into oblivion.