Les amours de minuit (1931) User Reviews

proto film noir for films noirs fans

[happytrigger-64-390517 · 7/10 · 16 September 2018]

As a film noir fan, I was glad to discover this early talkie, with great noir cinematography by two masters, Theodor Sparkuhl ("Among The Living" and "The Glass Key") and Roger Hubert (who worked on two of the best masterpieces of french cinema, "Napoléon" and "Les Enfants Du paradis"). And there are a lot of puzzling expressionist scenes in the harbor. Enjoy the gate scene anticipating Carné's "Quai des Brumes" and Duvivier's "Pépé le Moko". The cast is quite weak, especially Pierre Batcheff, Danièle Parola has some good scenes (and two nice songs) but the best is Jacques Varenne really threatening. If you think this proto noir is aged and too soft, jump on the next perfect and so noir version by Christian-Jacques, "Voyage Sans Espoir", you won't regret it.

Strangers on a train

[dbdumonteil · 9 October 2012]

The second talkie by Marc Allégret,and like his first effort,a collaboration with another director.The subject strangely recalls those of the late thirties dear to the Realisme Poétique:the scene when Georgette collapses behind the gates would not be out of place in Carné's "Quai Des Brumes" or Duvivier's "Pépé Le Moko";besides ,most of the action takes place in a harbor ,par excellence,the place where you can escape form your fate and sail away to some place far far away.

There the comparison ends : Allégret's work is moral,you can redeem yourself when a good girl shows you the straight and narrow,and thus love will find a way and you will be happy;besides,the true villains are always punished.

The romantic male young lead (the actor is of Russian origin)is rather gauche -sadly he was to die in 1932-but the villain recalls Jules Berry;Danièle Parola,who also sings the eponymous song,ended her career in the late thirties though she lived till 1998 .