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Il est minuit, docteur Schweitzer
1952 Biography / Drama
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Credits
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Director: André Haguet
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Script: Gilbert Cesbron, André Haguet, André Legrand
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Photo: Lucien Joulin
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Music: Maurice-Paul Guillot
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Cast: Pierre Fresnay (Dr. Albert Schweitzer),
Raymond Rouleau (Cdt. Lieuvin),
Jeanne Moreau (Marie Winter),
Jean Debucourt (Le père Charles),
Georges Chamarat (Le professeur),
Michel Marsay (Jean),
Jany Vallières,
Jean Lanier (M. Cristal),
Candy Wells (Joseph),
André Valmy (L'administrateur Leblanc)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 110 min; B&W
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Aka: Dr. Schweitzer; Schweitzer: Jungle Doctor
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Summary
Having qualified as a doctor of medicine at Strasbourg, the pastor Albert Schweitzer decides
to dedicate his life to missionary work in Africa. To forget an ill-fated
romance, a young woman named Marie volunteers to accompany him on his first journey, to
Gabon, where he hopes to treat, amongst other things, malaria, the biggest threat to the
local population. Schweitzer’s work is to be but cut short by unexpected developments
in Europe. The year is 1914…
Review
Despite its - ostensibly - impressive cast and substantial budget, this film singularly
fails to do any justice whatsoever to the great historical figure it portrays, Albert
Schweitzer. Hampered by a mediocre script and some misguided direction (to
say nothing of some blatant historical inaccuracies), the film fails to evoke any real
sympathy or interest in its subject. Rather than a great medical man and humanitarian,
Schweitzer is presented more as an obsessive musician, more preoccupied with his next
organ recital than with saving human lives. Pierre Fresnay’s portrayal of
the great man hardly helps matters – it is stilted and characterless, with the most absurd
comedy accent imaginable outside of a seaside pantomime.
© James Travers 2007
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