Gilles Grangier Movies

This is an updated version of the Alexander Dumas classic. Edmond Dantes (Paul Barge) is framed and imprisoned for collaboration with the enemy during World War II. When he escapes from jail he travels to South America where rumors of his death are soon taken to be fact. He discovers a treasure and plots his return to seek revenge against those who had falsely accused him of being a traitor. Cars replace horses for the chase scenes in this modernized version of Monte-Cristo as Edmond fights to regain his name, his property, and the woman who was taken from him years earlier. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Emile (Jean Gabin) and his family travel to the South of France to meet the parents of the man who is to marry his daughter in this family comedy drama. Adelphe (Fernandel) tries to ease the visitors from Paris into the more laid-back life of the South. The two future fathers-in-law slowly becomes friends before a lover's quarrel between their children threatens to jeopardize the upcoming marriage of Antoine (Frank Fernandel) and Marie (Marie Dubois). The two fathers eventually resolve their differences as do their offspring. Paulette Dubost plays the mother, with Neol Roquevert as the tourist. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

In this WWII comedy, a French POW escapes and hides at an inn. After the war, he stays at the inn to help the innkeeper, whom he has become involved with, rather than return to his wife. When the innkeeper's husband shows up ten years later, the POW goes back to his wife, whom he finds married to the chef at the cafe he ran. His wife refuses to sleep with the chef until a divorce is granted. The chef returns home to Normandy, thinking that he is out of luck, but the POW follows him and tells him that if he takes responsibility for his wife and the cafe, he will grant the divorce. The POW's loneliness is relieved when the innkeeper tells him that her husband has gone to Siberia and they are free to get married. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Three screenwriters pooled their talents for the French racetrack drama Duke of the Derby. Jean Gabin plays a handicapper who's been living high on the hog (or horse) for years. While playing the ponies at Britain's Epson Downs, Gabin finally outsmarts himself. The rest of the story concerns his feverish efforts to recoup his former glory. Originally Le Gentleman D'Epsom, the film is also known as Grandes Seigneurs. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A police inspector on the trail of the murderer of a nightclub owner falls for the dead man's drug-addicted mistress. He tries to get her to talk, but the commissioner suspects her and wants the case solved, so he orders her arrested. She disappears, and the inspector is led to the home of the real killer. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

This drama chronicles the exploits of two criminal brothers. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Lino Ventura is typecast again in this routine suspense story, this time as Pascal, a tough-minded, caustic, basically unsympathetic newspaper vendor. Pascal is caught up in the action when a man tries to drown himself, and without realizing it he soon becomes a pawn in a plot that the failed suicide is hatching. Fate lurks in the background as a murder is committed and Pascal tries to get himself out of more than one predicament. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Director Giles Grangier adapted the screenplay of Les Desordre et la Nuit from his own novel. Jean Gabin stars as Vallois, a vice inspector for the Paris police. Vallois takes special interest in the plight of drug-addicted Lucky (Najda Tiller), whom he considers to be more victim than criminal. Taking it upon himself to wean Lucky away from narcotics, Vallois also wins her love -- and, incidentally, smashes the dope ring responsible for her addiction. Second-billed Danielle Darrieux actually has a minor role, which she pulls off with finesse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Its title notwithstanding, Le Rouge est Mis (The Red Light is On) is not a drama about prostitution. Instead, the story concentrates on the humdrum, workaday world of the professional criminal. Jean Gabin plays garage-owner Louis, whose establishment is a front for a robbery gang. Louis and his confederates are careful to keep up a normal, bourgeois veneer by day, indulging in crooked activities only when "the red light is on" at night. This status quo is upset when one of the gang members becomes convinced that Louis' younger brother is a squealer. Le Rouge est Mis was adapted from a novel by Auguste Le Breton, of Rififi fame. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Georges Simenon novel Le Fils Cardinaud was the basis of La Sang a la Tete. Jean Gabin plays a middle-aged businessman, saddled with a restless young wife. When he loses his spouse to a handsome young juvenile delinquent, Gabin cannot control his envy and hatred. These negative emotions spread like diseases throughout Gabin's hometown, leading to a tragedy of unexpected dimensions. Resisting all temptations to tear a passion to tatters, star Gabin expertly underplays his role. La Sang a la Tete was released in English-speaking countries as The Blood to the Head. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi