Hans il marinaio

"Hans le marin" is the first cinema movie directed by François Villiers, who had already shot a few documentaries. After Hans.., he worked for TV, his second cinema movie was shot in 1958. Hans.. was supervised by Marcel Cravenne who wasn't an experienced director and who also worked a lot for tv. Jean-Pierre Aumont wrote the dialogues, and his wife Maria Montez played energic ally the fatal Dolores boozing with clients at the Kit Kat club in Marseille. The handsome Canadian sailor Eric (Aumont, but with no Canadian accent) falls in love with her but is seriously injured by a hoodlum helped by Dalio (always brilliant in that kind of coward thug). Dolores forgets him thinking he's dead and disappear. Hans has missed his boat and is now desperate, but he's helped by Tania the tzigane (Lilly Palmer half convincing with her accent and poor make up). Hans is ready to leave Marseille but by pure chance, he sees Dolores in a car. His mad love wakes up... Despite some mistakes (Aumont's French accent as a Canadian, Palmer"s German accent as a tzigane and poor make up), Hans.. is a nice blend of French "réalisme poétique" from the 30's and film noir from the 40's. Aumont is charismatic as a tough and determined sailor. All actors playing small characters are convincing. And the cinematography by Jean Bourgoin is a success with long shots, panoramics and travellings. From that same era, Hans.. makes me want to see again "Au-delà des grilles" by the great René Clément.