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Derrière la façade
1939 Crime / Comedy / Drama
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Credits
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Director: Georges Lacombe, Yves Mirande
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Script: Max Kolpé, Georges Lacombe, Yves Mirande
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Photo: Victor Arménise, Robert Juillard
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Music: André Gailhard
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Cast: Lucien Baroux (Le commissaire Boucheron),
Jules Berry (Alfrédo),
André Lefaur (Corbeau),
Gaby Morlay (Gaby),
Elvire Popesco (Mme Rameau),
Michel Simon (Picking),
Betty Stockfeld (L'anglaise),
Erich von Stroheim (Eric),
Simone Berriau (Lydia),
Missia (Madame Picking),
Raymond Segard (Robert Bernier),
Marcel Orluc (Gérard Bernier),
Lise Courbet (Paulette),
Andrex (André Laurent),
Julien Carette (Le soldat),
Aimé Clariond (Président Bernier),
Marcel Simon (Jules),
Gabrielle Dorziat (Madame Bernier),
Marguerite Moreno (Madame Mathieu)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 85 min; B&W
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Aka: 32 Rue de Montmartre; Behind the Facade
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Summary
Two rival police inspectors, Boucheron and Baumer, investigate the murder of the owner
of a well-to-do apartment block. Madame Mathieu has been found stabbed to death
in the lift, and there is no shortage of suspects. The murder weapon is a knife
which belongs to a resident knife thrower, Picking, and which is found in the room of
a kleptomaniac, Corbeau. No sooner have these two suspects been arrested than a
young bank clerk, André, confesses – not to the murder but to defrauding
his employer. Could the murderer be the sinister Eric, who is revealing his nasty
character during a game of cards? Could it be the unscrupulous Alfredo, a classy
crook who abuses women? Or could it be the son of the respectable Président
Bernier, eager to repay his father for having a mistress? As they delve deeper into
the private lives of the dead woman’s tenants, Boucheron and Baumer make more than
a few surprising discoveries. But will they solve the crime..?
Review
An extraordinary array of stars are assembled for this quirky murder mystery, which was
directed by the talented and popular filmmakers Georges Lacombe and Yves Mirande.
The film is less a conventional whodunit and more a witty and incisive examination of
the moral deficiencies of the middle classes. Adultery, prostitution, fraud, theft,
hypocrisy, abuse of women by men, manipulation of men by women – almost every conceivable
flaw of the Bourgeois milieu is picked up and beautifully caricaturised in this piece
of high class satire.
As the bungling police inspectors Boucheron and Baumer pursue their investigation,
we are treated to a series of well-crafted vignettes which alternate between tragic poignancy,
high drama and outright farce, each with some sparkling performances. Michel Simon
and André Lefaur make a hilarious duo as the knife thrower and kleptomaniac; Erich
von Stroheim is genuinely chilling as he spars with his card playing rival; and there
are some equally pleasing contributions from the magnificent Jules Berry, Marguerite Moreno
and Gabrielle Dorziat. Ultimately, the film belongs to Lucien Baroux and Jacques
Baumer, whose portrayal of a pair of rival policemen (a bit like Sam Spade competing with
Commissaire Maigret) makes a refreshing change from the conventional all-to-perfect crime-investigating
hero.
All in all, Derrière la façade
is a superlative example of 1930s French cinema – a film that uses a popular
genre (the comedy thriller) as a vehicle for a “no holds barred” assault on
the Bourgeoisie. Well written, well constructed, and with some exquisite moments
of poignancy and comedy, it is both an intelligent critique of its time and hugely entertaining
piece of escapist fun.
© James Travers 2004
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