While I enjoyed a good majority of this new wave post-war film, I found that it petered out in the last 15 minutes and that prevented me from reading it as a good film. That does not mean that it is not worth watching, but it loses interest as the plot ones down. as usual, Kirk Douglas creates a very complex characterization as an American returning to France after the war and recalling his days there as a soldier. He has taking up residence in what is basically a French bed and breakfast and finds himself falling in love with the sweet Dany Robin, a seemingly innocent young lady out of her element among what is obviously women of the street. it is obvious that if she has turned to the world's oldest profession, it is because she has been forced to because she is surrounded by amoral people who are exploiting the visiting military personnel and will use any means to get their money.
In his first scene, Douglas flashes back to the various people he encountered during his time there during the war. They include obvious madam Gabrielle Dorziat and the aggressive Barbara Laage through whom he meets the seemingly naive Robin. At first, it seems he just considers her another fun distraction, but as they begin to spend time together, it is obvious that they are falling in love and Douglas asks her to marry him. But when there is a sweep of girls on the street and she claims to be married, she ends up arrested, and threw a long and detailed narration, we learn the history of the prison where she is held, where Marie Antoinette at one time was kept prior to her execution. It's an interesting look at the social history of France at the time, and I found it a very well done montage.
it's obvious that these two star-crossed lovers are not meant to be together, and this has the potential to be a great romantic tragedy. Some people might find the English speaking French accents a little difficult to tolerate for a long period of time, and some of the attitudes of the French peasants towards the visiting English speaking soldiers is not at all positive even though that they are trying to help France fight for its freedom. I enjoyed a good majority of this, but it seems to fall flat as it begins to wrap up, and even under the direction of veteran Anatole Litvak, it sort of just laid there as it attempted to satisfactorily resolved a plot that the audience already knew what was going to happen. Veteran American characterrrier actor Robert Strauss stands out in a scene with Douglas and is one of the highlights of the film.
In his first scene, Douglas flashes back to the various people he encountered during his time there during the war. They include obvious madam Gabrielle Dorziat and the aggressive Barbara Laage through whom he meets the seemingly naive Robin. At first, it seems he just considers her another fun distraction, but as they begin to spend time together, it is obvious that they are falling in love and Douglas asks her to marry him. But when there is a sweep of girls on the street and she claims to be married, she ends up arrested, and threw a long and detailed narration, we learn the history of the prison where she is held, where Marie Antoinette at one time was kept prior to her execution. It's an interesting look at the social history of France at the time, and I found it a very well done montage.
it's obvious that these two star-crossed lovers are not meant to be together, and this has the potential to be a great romantic tragedy. Some people might find the English speaking French accents a little difficult to tolerate for a long period of time, and some of the attitudes of the French peasants towards the visiting English speaking soldiers is not at all positive even though that they are trying to help France fight for its freedom. I enjoyed a good majority of this, but it seems to fall flat as it begins to wrap up, and even under the direction of veteran Anatole Litvak, it sort of just laid there as it attempted to satisfactorily resolved a plot that the audience already knew what was going to happen. Veteran American characterrrier actor Robert Strauss stands out in a scene with Douglas and is one of the highlights of the film.