Vera Korene Movies

Originally released in 1939, Savage Brigade (La Brigade Sauvage) is set during WW I. The story concerns a deadly -- and long-standing -- feud between two Cossack officers, Kalatjeff (Charles Vanel) and Mirsky (Troubetskoy). About to settle their differences on the field of honor, the officers are obliged to forget their personal squabbles when the war breaks out. Throughout the hostilities, Kalatjeff and Mirsky fight side by side against the enemy, with the understanding that they'll do their best to kill each other when peace is declared. As it turns out, their duel does not take place for another 20 years! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Maginot line, designed to be the deepest war trench in the world, provides the focus for this espionage drama. The French began building the trench during WW II. It did not matter that trench warfare had proved to be terribly ineffective during WW I, the French were determined to make it work. It didn't. The Germans simple drove their tanks around the complex maze and invaded France. The story in the film begins as the new Line commander is murdered by a machine gun. Three lieutenants are the prime suspects. One of them is a German spy. He is soon discovered by counterintelligence agents who pursue him to a blind corner in the trench. Though he is only 200 yards from the German border, the spy kills himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Though its title and director are Russian, The Volga Boatmen was lensed in its entirety in France. Set in pre-revolutionary days, the story concentrates on the miserable lives of the boatmen who pull their merchant vessels up and down the Volga. When army officer Vadime Borzine (Pierre Blanchar)is caught in a compromising position with the wife of his commander, Borzine is punished by being forced to join the ranks of the Volga boatmen. Fate intervenes when a yacht carrying his sweetheart catches fire, enabling Vadime to perform conspicuous acts of bravery, thereby clearing his name. Though not a remake of the 1927 Cecil B. DeMille film of the same name, both versions of The Volga Boatmen have a great deal in common. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The "une femme" (one woman) of the title is a young widow (Vera Korene). Upon discovering that her late husband was far from faithful, the woman decides to make up for all the fun she missed out on in life. She invites the "sept hommes" (seven men) who have been her most ardent suitors for a weekend of "fun and games" at her lavish chateau. Once the seven have arrived, however, the widow realizes that she has eyes only for one: her childhood sweetheart, an impoverished nobleman (Fernand Gravey). For the record, the remaining six suitors include a gigolo (Roger Duquesne), a self-made businessman (Pierre Larquey), a writer (Felix Oudart) and a bureaucrat (Saturin-Fabre). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi