The Secret (1974)
"Le secret" (original title)

A stranger enters into and forever alters the life of a couple. He claims to be pursued by certain authorities who intend to prevent him from disclosing a secret that only he holds, whence ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Enrico

Writers:

Francis Ryck (novel), Robert Enrico,

Stars:

Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marlène Jobert, Philippe Noiret

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	David Daguerre
Marlène Jobert	...	Julia Vandal
Philippe Noiret	...	Thomas Berthelot
Jean-François Adam	...	Claude Vandal
Solange Pradel	...	Greta
Antoine Saint-John	...	Gardien
Michel Delahaye	...	Le Médecin
Maurice Vallier	...	Bertram
Frédéric Santaya	...	Homme oiseaux
Jean-Claude Fal	...	Le Forestier
Patrice Melennec	...	Gendarme
Pierre Danny	...	Chef commando

Storyline

A stranger enters into and forever alters the life of a couple. He claims to be pursued by certain authorities who intend to prevent him from disclosing a secret that only he holds, whence the title. Is he lying, or insane - or is he telling the truth? Who, if anyone, is after him? And what *is* - the secret?

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Plot Keywords:

secret | authority | helicopter | murder disguised as suicide | sculptor | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 October 1974 (France)

Also Known As:

The Secret

Filming Locations:

Mimizan, Landes, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Président Films, Valoria Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

User Reviews

What lies beneath

"Le secret" was overshadowed by Robert Enrico's blockbuster "Le Vieux Fusil" released the following year.I have always thought that that movie -also featuring Noiret-was largely overrated.

"Le Secret" is a different matter:it's a return to mystery,irrational,and madness ,tendencies Enrico had displayed in his first(and best)work "Au Coeur de La Vie" (1963).It is far from being as stunning though.It's too long.In its first part,the story drags on and on.Fifteen minutes could have been easily edited out,the story would not have suffered for it.

It was the time of paranoia in political movies.In the wake of "Conversation" and "The parallax view" lots of FRench directors jumped on the bandwagon.There was Jacques Deray and "Un Papillon sur l'Epaule" ;Yves Boisset and "Espion Lève-toi" ;Jean-Claude Tramont and "Le Point de Mire" ;and Robert Enrico and "Le Secret" .All those films deal with a huge conspiracy which may or may not exist.

Enrico 's movies has good assets :his three leads are adequate ;a disturbing prologue (and a symmetrical epilogue);and characters who change : in the last third,we are not sure that Trintignant's paranoia or would be mythomania has not corrupted his "normal" companions.

The military intervention complete with paratroopers and tanks is a bit too much but it adds to the offbeat atmosphere of the film and it reminds us of Enrico's anti-militarism (already obvious in "La Belle Vie" (1964)).

"Le Secret" is a flawed but interesting work.