Dimitri Kirsanoff reportedly made good silent movies ;there is also a worthwhile talkie, "rapt" (1934).

"Le Crâneur" (="the show-off":as nobody's bragging is the movie,the title is a misnomer).

Raymond Pellegrin was a very good actor ,who made indifferent films Noirs by the dozen and found a good part as a schoolteacher in the first version of "Manon Des Sources" by Pagnol.

He portrays a stuntman (the actor he stands for is a real braggart on his part:" yes,he said to his female fans,I'm sporty;that's why I'm not doubled in my movies) ,torn between two women:a good one (Marina Vlady) ,who sings in a nightclub and a bitch (Dora Doll), a choreographic artist ("topless dancer" says the cop).The bad woman gets her new lover involved in her dirty job with drug traffickers. (she tells him he transports nylon stockings !)

In this hackneyed story ,the most salutary quality is a certain sense of humor ;"it could not be the English guy who committed the crime!he would have strangled her!" .The Chanteuse to her sister who blames the place where she works: " There are decent people there;sister: " decent people for sure ,selling morphine !"

The film is a long flashback,as it is often the case in this kind of thriller ;the suspense is not really sustained and the ending totally bland.

Marina Vlady(17) has rarely been as good-looking as in this movie ;she claims that she writes her own songs :maybe it fooled some viewers at the time; but since, Brassens ' s "Chanson Pour L'Auvergnat" has become a timeless classic of the Chanson Française and her words are now a little ridiculous.

NB: Marina Vlady's real life sister,Hélène Vallier,plays the part of her straight sibling.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

A singer tries to rescue a man drawn into the drug trade.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Nadia Sibirskaïa in Ménilmontant (1926)

Le crâneur

Photos4

Top Cast27

User reviews2

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed