Film Review: Bizarre, Bizarre (Drôle de drame, 1937)

10 months ago

(source: tmdb.org)

French director Marcel Carné is best known for his period drama epic Children of Paradise and 1930s crime dramas that are considered precursor to Hollywood’s film noir. One of his most interesting films, however, belongs to completely different genre. It is Drôle de drame, 1937 dark comedy, in English-speaking countries better known under title Bizarre, Bizarre.

It is based on His First Offence, 1911 novel by Scottish author Joseph Storer Clouston, which have been first adapted as 1912 American silent film The Mystery of No. 47. This version has the plot set in early 20th Century London and begins when Archibald Soper (played by Louis Jouvet), Anglican bishop of Bedford, denounces “immoral” crime novels written by popular author who goes by the pen name “Felix Chapel”. That author happens to be cousin Irwin Molyneux (played by Michel Simon), meek botanist who finds inspiration for his plot in wild tales by Billy (played by Jean-Pierre Aumont), milkman who visits his household because he is infatuated with Molyneux’s secretary Eva (played by Nadine Vogel). Soper invites himself in to Molyneux’s home for supper into most inopportune moment; two of the servants have quit and Molyneux must deliver meal prepared by his wife Margaret (played by Françoise Rosay), who, in order to prevent embarrassment, must pretend that she isn’t home. This awkward situation convinces Soper that Molyneux has killed his wife, and when both spouses leave the house in order to hide in Chinatown, he calls Scotland Yard. Molyneux becomes sought by police, but his publisher hires “Chapel” to cover the manhunt. In the meantime, Molyneux also has to deal with William Kramps (played by Jean-Louis Barrat), serial killer who blames “Chapel” for having to run from police after taking novelist’s descriptions of perfect crime too seriously.

Made entirely in studio and written by Jacques Prevert, famous poet and Carné’s frequent collaborator, Bizarre, Bizarre begins slowly and requires modern audience to adapt to occasional outbursts of theatricality and melodrama. However, once the major characters are established and plot gets going, the film becomes quite entertaining, partly because of Carné’s confident direction, partly because of very good black-and-white cinematography by Eugen Schüftan, but mostly thanks to Prevert’s script that gives the darkly humorous story flavour of typically French farce. The most important ingredient for Bizarre, Bizarre is very good cast, that includes some of the grandest names of 1930s French cinema, including Michel Simon in somewhat complex role of meek intellectual forced to take another identity. Louis Jouvet is also good in the role of hypocritical clergyman, while Jean-Louis Barralt, who would later shine in Children of Paradise, plays very interesting role of strangely sympathetic serial killer and even briefly appears nude in one scene, a sight which was quite rare for 1930s mainstream cinema. Prevert’s script provides a lot of humour and even some satirical commentary directed at masses that are easily turned into lynch mobs due to sensationalist press. Although slightly rough around the edges, Bizarre, Bizarre is funny film that could be recommended even to the audience that cares little for old cinema.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)