Le puritain (1938) Online

This French production from the story by Irish playwright, Liam O'Flaherty, is the story of a religious fanatic (played by Jean Louis Barrault)who finds his entire life and philosophy turned topsy-turvy as he falls in love with a girl and kills her in a jealous rage. His search is for peace of mind and a desire to justify the murder of the girl to himself. His mind becomes distraught as he gropes trying to rationalize his deed and his world falls apart around him.

Pierre Frenay is the police inspector who patiently and tirelessly stays on Barrault's trail, without putting him under arrest, though convinced he is the murderer, and waiting for the moment when he feels Barrault will break under the strain of his own religious fanaticism.

The cast and credits which appear at the beginning of the film are bizarre:Pierre Fresnay and Viviane Romance (it takes 50 minutes before the latter appears and her screen presence does not exceed 20 min)are at the top of the bill though they play supporting parts whereas Jean-Louis Barrault who carries the movie upon his shoulders and is present in 95% of the scenes is credited as "supporting".

"Le Puritain " was extremely different from all that was done at the time in France (and French cinema at the time reached peaks which it never surpassed afterward) .Telling the story of a religious fanatic who kills a good time gal because he thinks he has become God's instrument;someone who seems to hate the whole world ,who compares the heathen town to Sodom.It's one of Jean-Louis Barrault's most stunning performances (it might well be his very best ,if we do not count "Les Enfants Du Paradis" considered the best French movie of all time).His feverish look,his total mastery of his art ,from a whisper to a scream (And I mean "scream " for he cries like one possessed )are really awesome.The movie won the Prix Louis Delluc .

Based on a novel by Liam O' Flaherty,the story is supposed to take place in Ireland and it does in the movie although the atmosphere is not really Irish:the Concierge is typically French,and the music you can hear in the low dive is a tango to the tune of an accordion.And Pierre Fresnay is Commissaire Wens one year before he portrays this character.

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