aka Géo Trouvetout.

French cinema did not often broach sci-fi;the only effort during the Occupation days ,"Croisières Sidérales" ,was distressingly silly :don't you learn that on Venus ,you can breathe fresh air and that they speak French,like everybody should do,across the universe? So "L'Invité De La Onzième Heure" looks like an anomaly in the Liberation cinema.

A scientist (Roger Pigaut)invents a sensational machine which can read the mind.He's invited his family plus an unexpected mysterious guest :the movie is all the more surprising since it begins as a comedy ,continues as a sci-fi movie ,and halfway through turns into a whodunit.The inventor has his guests' thoughts recorded Willy-nilly and he tells them he'll read them tomorrow.As the guests do not really wish him well,there's a storm brewing.During the night ,the professor is poisoned and ,in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie ,everyone had a reason to get away with him.The intruder guest claims he is a detective and he investigates.But he might be an impostor.

The movie is filmed in an abbey ,the weather is thundery ,and the doors are mysteriously closed;add a power failure and you have an eerie atmosphere.

The sci-fi paraphernalia is cheap ,recalling "plan nine outer space" ,but there are enough unexpected twists to satisfy a thriller buff;the detective plot is not unlike Christie's smash hit "the mousetrap" ;only an efficient director is lacking here:Maurice Cloche does not rise to the occasion .

Watch it anyway if you can find it:it's completely out of touch with the contemporary French cinema.

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"L'ennemi Sans Visage" Maurice Cammage , 1946

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 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)

The sci-fi genre, short for science fiction, features imaginative and futuristic concepts that are often rooted in scientific principles, technology, and possibilities. These stories delve into "what if" questions and can serve as a platform to address contemporary social, political, and ethical issues by projecting them onto future or alternate settings.

James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

A scientist invents a sensational machine which can read the mind.

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Paris-Studios-Cinéma, Quai du Point du Jour, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

L'invité de la onzième heure

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