Summary
The baron Jérôme Antoine is an inveterate gambler, often losing, sometimes
winning. One day, he wins a million francs when playing cards with the marquis de
Villamayor. As a deposit, the marquis gives the baron a luxury yacht.
On the spur of the moment, the baron sets out on a leisure cruise on his new boat with
a former mistress, Perle, whom he snatches from her current partner, an ill-tempered millionaire.
Penniless, the baron has to wait impatiently for his cheque from Villamayor. Whilst
waiting, Perle meets a wealthy young wine grower who falls in love with her, and the baron
is attracted to a café owner, Maria.
Review
In this light romantic comedy, Delannoy plays on his strengths as a director and also
capitalises on the formidable acting talent in his cast - notably Jean Gabin and Micheline
Presle. Gabin is particularly impressive as the gentleman gambler who appears
wealthy and imposing, but in truth has scarcely a sou to his name. White-haired
and perhaps a little stiff-limbed, Gabin is still as imposing as ever, exuding charisma
and charm in every scene in which he appears. For once, his capacity to out-stage
everyone else in the world is an asset.
Sharing the limelight with Gabin is the attractive Micheline Presle. Despite their
apparent age difference (which the film wittily acknowledges by having Presle’s character
pretending to be the baron’s neice), the two actors have a striking on-screen rapport.
Jean Desailly also makes a pleasing appearance in a typically wistful Desailly rôle.
Whilst strong on characterisation, the film is noticeably weak on content and pacing.
To some extent, Audiard’s fine dialogue makes up for that, but the latter half of the
film seems to crawl along and the viewer becomes as impatient as Gabin’s character, waiting
for that wretched cheque to arrive.
The ending is also something of a disappointment. Micheline Presle’s disappears
without a trace and the baron walks away from his new female friend, Maria, without any
qualms.
© James Travers 2000
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