Name: Chéri-Bibi
Genre: Drama
Released: 1938-03-02
Duration: 1 h 50 min
Rating: 5.7
Cast: Pierre Fresnay, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Marcel Dalio

"That's the sound of the men working on the chain gang..."

Second version of a less famous Gaston Leroux's novel;unlike "Mystere De La Chambre Jaune " or "phantom of the opera"it's not a murder mystery;Cheri-Bibi is a gangster flanked by accomplices such as "La Ficelle" 

This one by Leon Mathot stars Pierre Fresnay as the lead -perhaps not a good choice ,he's better on the right side of the law,at portraying Commissaire Wens.Jean-Pierre Aumont , romantic male lead of the era ,portrays the nephew of a millionaire,falsely accused of his uncle's murder;Cheri-Bibi ,his gang and the young man end up on a ship en route to the penal colony;the villains try to take over the ship,but their attempt fails : they will work as lumberjacks deep in the virgin forest ,after a painful journey .As always since "Pepe Le Moko" ,Marcel Dalio is the unfortunate hateful informer .

The story is muddled in its first part and the interest comes up with the beginning of the voyage,during which Mathot uses a very original technique: to carry out a plan to get rid of the wardens ,the prisoners use the sign language ,and there are subtitles for the viewers who do not know it;the priest's sermon,before the ship leaves for the green hell,is quite funny;and the ending shows a chivalrous Cheri -Bibi .The 14th July letter is also a good moment ,but the "Paname (=Paris) " nostalgia comes directly from "Pepe Le Moko".And Aumont shows a tendency to overplay in the last part.

"All day long they work so hard till the sun is going down" (Sam Cooke)

Besides the three black and white movies,Cheri-Bibi would be adapted a fourth time in the seventies ,this time as a miniseries.

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)

An innocent young man, burglar Cheri-Bibi and his gangsters are sent to a penal colony.

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Vi äro rymlingar från franska straffkolonierna

Jean-Pierre Aumont, Marcel Dalio, and Pierre Fresnay in Chéri-Bibi (1938)

Pierre Fresnay and Suzet Maïs in Chéri-Bibi (1938)

Chéri-Bibi

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