Evening star., 1952-10-15


A major premise is that ther,
too often ignored of late. It also GO
of other aspects of off-beat life, a
tlon. the strength and appeal of
quiet men, and even a touch or
two of the temptations that in
spire decorous citizens to go slum-
ming.
"Casque Dor" any one can see,
covers lot of ground. Obviously
happy to guide moviegoers over it
is a French cast which includes
smouldering Simone Signoret,
Serge Reggiani and Claude
Dauphin as a pair of her passion
ate suitors, and half dozen other
1usty performers.
Beyond this. Director Jacques
Becker Is storyteller with high
degree OF skill in making eloquent
use OF his cameras. Even the sunlit
scenes OF his film are pervaded by
the macabre and doomed atmos-
phere Of the screenscript which he
wrote with Jacques Companeez.
"Casque Dor" is a period piece.
1t is study of French life in the
days before the machine speeded
1t up.
Central figures in the earthly
fable are dazzling blond (Mlle.
Signoret) and a carpenter (Reg-
gianD whose inner fires are less
spectacular but just as intense.
These two meet for the first time
on country outing which makes
1t clear that members of the
French underworld are as favor
ably disposed toward fresh air asI
their more conventional brethren.
Introducing them is an old reform
school chum of Reggiani's, visit
full gangster who hates to expose
an old, reformed friend to new
temptations.
Reggiani, however, is made of
sturdy stuff. He wants the girl,
UNDERSTANDABLE enough, but he
wants no part of the gang whose
work is robbing the then French
equivalent of Drinks trucks. The
gang which does not especially
mind his joining the queue
clamoring for Mile. Signoret'S
favors would much rather have
his strength and quiet self conf
dence as one of its assets.
This difference of standards and
intentions leads to a conflict that
seldom falters in excitement.
While Becker's cameras sweep
dramatically over considerable
rural landscape and into some
murky corners of Paris, the figures
upon whom they focus are those
of Mile. Signoret and Reggiani.
They are humans with a common,
.uncomplex aim, a desire for mu-
,tual escape from the turbulence of
life.
Before they can make good this
flight, there are many things to
dispose of. One Of these is Mile.
Signoret's current lover, a sleek
wolf type. This Reggiani takes
care Of in one of those knife fights
that underworld Romeos settle in
the back gardens Of their favorite
bistros.
This assures the lovers a respite
but no more than that. Two
further complications to be dis
posed of are the jealousy of the
gangs leader for the girl and the
official interest of the Paris police
In why one gangster kills another.
These are difficult, especially
when the gang leader frames Reg
giants best friend for the murder
and forces the latter-out Of a
sense of honor and obligation-toI
confess the crime.
X X X \
There is a deal of violence in
"Casque Dor" but Becker's di-
rection of the film sees that it is
nicely blended with passages OF
pastoral serenity. Between the
storms of their life in Paris, they
are permitted quiet interludes in
the Paris countryside. The con-
trast of these is expertly contrived
to give the screenplay a sustained
suspense that is one of its strong
est aspects.
The acting of "Casque Dor" is
Of that uniformly high order that
has characterized these tales OF
earthly passion in French films.
No plump blond from here to the
Iron Curtain could more expertly
compress the passion and cum
ming of the heroine than Mile.
Signoret. She is a girl with
virtually universal field of choice
in lovers and she shows an alto
gether admirable taste in singing
out one with the vitality and un-
wavering decency of Reggiani.
Claude Dauphin makes an in
teresting type of the rapacious
gang leader, a man who under
stands the essential nature of
both sexes save for his single mis-
taken Judgment in Reggiani's
case.
Another commanding perform
ance in "Casque Dor" is that Of
Raymond Bussiers as the boyhood
friend of the hero. pathetic
figure Of the honorable inten-
toned human who knows that the
one thing he can count upon In
the world is the latter's friend
ship.
"Casque Dor" is one of the bet
ter French Aims.