Circonstances atténuantes

Although one of France's most prolific directors it is unlikely that few if any of Jean Boyer's seventy or so films have made much of an impression on English or American speaking audiences. One wonders how these light, elegant, unpretentious and entertaining pieces are now regarded in his own country.

Adapted by Boyer and Jean-Pierre Feydeau, son of Georges, from a novel by Marcel Arnac, this is essentially a vehicle for the extraordinary talents of Michel Simon and Arletty who had already appeared in Boyer's delightful 'La Chaleur du Sein' and who were such a formidable partnership in 'Fric Frac' for Claude Autant-Lara. The latter film also starred one of Boyer's regular collaborators, Fernandel.

They are ably supported in this by Suzanne Dantes, Andrex, Dorville and Robert Ozanne with an all too brief appearance by the sensuous Mila Parély whose character is appropriately named 'Panther'.

Whilst being obliged to stay in a crummy wayside inn a Judge falls for a 'tart with a heart' and his snooty wife succumbs to the manly charms of a petty crook and it has been suggested that the camaraderie here of middle and lower class represents a call for national unity in the face of the gathering storm. It is interesting to note that the catchy 'Comme de bien entendu' by Georges van Parys and Boyer that is so delighfully performed in the film was sung by French soldiers marching to war.