The Watchmaker of St Paul [L’Horloger de Saint-Paul] **** (1974, Philippe Noiret, Jean Rochefort, Jacques Denis) – Classic Movie Review 10,369

Director Bertrand Tavernier’s extremely satisfying 1974 début French film The Watchmaker of St Paul [L’Horloger de Saint-Paul] [The Clockmaker of St Paul], which won the Special Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1974 and the Prix Louis Delluc, is taken from Georges Simenon’s tale of a Lyon [Lyons] watchmaker and jeweller who finds the police are hunting his son for the murder of a factory owner.

Tavernier hones the atmosphere and acting with great precision, bringing out the best in two most charismatic, deliciously quirky actors – Philippe Noiret as the clockmaker Michel Descombes and Jean Rochefort as the cop in the case, Le Commissaire Guilboud.

Philippe Noiret (1930–2006).

Jean Rochefort (1930–2017).

Also in the cast are Sylvain Rougerie, Christine Pascal, Jacques Denis, Yves Afonso, Julien Bertheau, Jacques Hilling, Clotilde Joano, Andrée Tainsy, William Sabatier, Cécile Vassort, Liza Braconnier, Hervé Morel and Sacha Bauer.

The Watchmaker of St Paul [L’Horloger de Saint-Paul] [The Clockmaker of St Paul] is directed by Bertrand Tavernier, runs 105 minutes, is made by Lira Films, is released by FDC-Sirius-Pathé (1974) (France) and Contemporary Films (1977) (UK), is written by Jean Aurenche, Pierre Bost and Bertrand Tavernier, based on the novel by Georges Simenon, is shot in Lyon [Lyons] in Eastmancolor by Pierre-William Glenn, is produced by Raymond Danon and is scored by Philippe Sarde.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,369

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