In 1935 writer-director Henri Decoin married actress Danielle Darrieux and they celebrated by offering the public their first film together La Domino Vert. In 1941 in the wake of their sixth film together, Premiere Rendez-vous, they divorced and Darrieux subsequently married Porfirio Rubirosa but between 1935 and 1941 they made some of the finest films in French cinema including Battement de coeur, Retour a l'aube, Mademoiselle, ma mere and this one, Abuse de confiance which sees Darrieux's studies for the Bar languishing in the wake of her grandmother's death. Unable to find work that doesn't involve putting out for the boss she finally follows the advice of a friend and claims to be the natural daughter of celebrated novelist Charles Vanel. Plot-wise that's about it but Darrieux lit up any screen she was on as well as being a great actress and Vanel was not exactly chopped liver if anybody asks you and as icing on the cake Darrieux is finally called to the Bar and gets to make an impassioned speech in court. Now available on DVD this is not to be missed.
Review of Abus de confiance
