Heart of Paris (1937) User Reviews

This Sporting Life

[writers_reign · 8/10 · 4 February 2017]

As a lover of French Cinema, especially the first two decades of the Sound era which produced so much that is durable in writers, directors and performers, I had long coveted this movie primarily because although she had appeared briefly in six previous films this leading role was the one that kick-started Michele Morgan's lustrous career - ironically she died in her mid-nineties just a couple of days before I found the DVD - but her co-star was a giant of both stage and screen, Raimu and for good measure it was directed by Marc Allegret, in short, three solid reasons for seeking it out, but there was more, prominent in the cast was Julian Carette and in the very first scene a young Bernard Blier, with girl friend Jenny Carol, trades their two separate bicycles for a tandem in the sports shop owned by Raimu. The film was made in 1937 and in taking the lead the seventeen year old Morgan was throwing her hat into a ring dominated by two slightly older and established stars, Arletty and Danielle Darrieux (indeed, Morgan's screen debut was as an extra in a film that starred Darrieux; in the event all three became an indelible part of French cinema. There are those who may find the story of a juror (Raimu) who persuades his eleven colleagues to acquit the teenager accused of murder (Morgan) and then takes her into his home a touch quaint but for me it stands up well and is a key thread in the tapestry of French cinema.

The juror No 5

[zutterjp48 · 7/10 · 3 September 2019]

Based on a story of Marcel Achard "Gribouille" is a pleasant comedy about a trial in Paris: Camille Morestan who manages a bicycle store goes to the court to make his duty as citizen: first he is a potential juror,then a juror gets sick and Camille becomes the juror number five,Thanks his questions to the president of the court and his debate with the other jurors the woman acccused of killing her lover has acquitted.Then his help goes further; the homeless and unemployed woman will work as saleswoman in his store. "Gribouille" is the story of the encounter of Raimu, an established and well known French actor (remember the famous trilogy of Marcel Pagnol) and a new actress called Michèle Morgan in her first important role. But the other comedian are also important in this comedy, especially Jeanne Provost (the funny and smart spouse of Camille Morestan), Carette,Jean Worms and Andrex.

The big man and the little girl

[dbdumonteil · 10 February 2006]

"Raimu taught me everything!" Michele Morgan said after working with him for "Gribouille" This is an endearing obsolete movie ,which retains a certain charm.It features roughly two parts: Michele Morgan stands trial:she has killed (by accident) her lover, a rich kid whose father wants to avenge.The judge and the jurors seem to have a thing about this "bad " girl whose dad was a deserter and who has already had four lovers.But one of the jurors makes the jury change their mind as new evidences are found:Raimu,predating Henry Fonda in Lumet's work, helps save the defendant from the "eleven angry men".

Morgan is released ,but she cannot find a job.So the ex-juror ,who owns a cycle shop ,hires her but his family will ignore who she really is.Of course Raimu's son (Gilbert Gil ) falls in love with the girl but his soon-to-be brother-in-law has nastier plans about her.

Two short appearances by Bernard Blier who ,with his girlfriend ,would like to swap their bicycles for a tandem and later vice versa.

A fine Christmas night sequence complete with midnight mass and "Gloria in excelsis Deo" .

"Gribouille" , a gentle nickname the missus gives to her hubby is only heard in the last lines.

Very charming.