Michele Morgan made this film in the same year (1938) she made Quai des brumes (I'm guessing that in stating 1940 IMDb is referring to its release in the US) and no film, of course, should be made to stand comparison with that masterpiece by the Prevert-Carne partnership. In any other year this one would have had legs, pun intentional, and even so it's great to get the chance to see it now. Morgan plays a 'hostess' in a night club, not exactly a barrel of laffs, subject as she is (as are the other hostesses) to propositions on a nightly basis. Social historians will be interested that the cabaret where Morgan works features the great French chanteuse Frehel (remember her in Peple Le Moko) playing herself, complete with affiche. Be that as it may Morgan decides to take advantage of the opportunity to take a holiday on the Cote d'Azure where, under a Jane Doe, she integrates easily with an affluent group of young people one of whom, inevitably, falls for her. Alas, shopgirls dreams aren't coming true this season and reel ten sees her back in business at the same old stand, sadder but wiser. A fine example of French film making on the eve of the second world war.
Review of L'entraîneuse
