Meurtres [Three Sinners] **** (1950, Fernandel, Mireille Perrey, Jacques Varennes, Colette Mareuil, Jeanne Moreau) – Classic Movie Review 5836

Fernandel stars as a simple, good-natured French countryman, Noël Annequin, who wants to report to the police that he has poisoned his incurably ill, beloved wife, whom he cannot bear to see suffer any more, finally succumbing to her begging him to end her misery. But then his odious relatives go berserk.

The great comic Fernandel proves that he can also play a serious role with equal vibrant effect he brings to his usual comedic roles in Richard Pottier’s intense, gripping, well-meaning and well-made 1950 psychological drama.

The little-known director Pottier handles it intensely and Charles Plisnier scripts (along with Maurice Barry) tautly from his own novel.

There is a notable early co-starring support role for the 22-year-old Jeanne Moreau as Fernandel’s rebellious niece, Martine Annequin, in her second year in the movies.

The film deserves to be much better known.

Also in the cast are Mireille Perrey, Jacques Varennes, Colette Mareuil, Philippe Nicaud, Line Noro and Raymond Souplex.

André Germain shoots in black and white, it is produced by Jacques Bar and scored by Raymond Legrand, with art direction by Paul-Louis Boutié.

RIP Jeanne Moreau.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5836

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com