Le messager (1937) Online

Raymond Rouleau was essentially a stage director ,but he also played in several interesting movies,Becker's "Falbalas" being the most notable.

"Le Messager " was already his fifth effort ,but it was 1956 ,20 years later,before he made another one,his most famous one, "Les Sorcières De Salem",Arthur Miller's celebrated play ,which he directed first on stage with the same actors (Signoret,Montand).

"Le Messager" takes place in the bush,but was entirely filmed in a studio;it suffers accordingly.

A love triangle :Gabin,,Gaby Morlay and Jean-Pierre Aumont ,the romantic male lead of the era. The love story is undistinguished;the best scenes are to be found in the Africa segment where Aumont falls in love with his mate's wife he has never seen.The moment when the young lad hears her voice ,coming from nowhere ,climaxes the movie.In this atmosphere of intense heat,fever and frustration,it really makes sense.

Coming at a time when the French cinema went from strength to strength,"Le Messager" fell into oblivion ,but might possess considerable appeal for Gabin's buffs.

"Le Messager" was directed in 1937 by Raymond Rouleau, we recognize his vitality in the first scenes that make me think of an American comedy. We even hear Gabin speak English. But when the story begins with Gabin working in Africa (unbelievable settings) leaving his love in France, the movie sinks into empty and sleepy melo (the explosion scene is really ridiculous). But Gabin is still great, especially when he finds back Morlaix and Aumont together, and he quits Morlaix very dryly (I imagine the same scene ten years later with Marlene).

"Le Messager" is a very minor Gabin lost between his masterpieces.