La Poison (1951)

Through a series of circumstances and plot twists an enterprising man manages to get away with murdering his wife, even though he cheerfully admits his guilt in court.

Director:

Sacha Guitry

Writer:

Sacha Guitry

Stars:

Michel Simon, Jean Debucourt, Jacques Varennes

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michel Simon	...	Paul Louis Victor Braconnier
Jean Debucourt	...	Maître Aubanel
Jacques Varennes	...	Le procureur
Jeanne Fusier-Gir	...	La fleuriste
Germaine Reuver	...	Blandine Braconnier (as Madame Reuver)
Pauline Carton	...	La mercière
Albert Duvaleix	...	L'abbé Méthivier (as Duvaleix)
Henry Laverne	...	Le président
Jacques de Féraudy	...	Jean Brun
Jacques Derives	...	Jules
Louis de Funès	...	André
Luce Fabiole	...	Amélie - la servante du curé
Yvonne Hébert	...	Julie
Roger Poirier	...	Un geôlier (as Poirier)
André Dalibert	...	Le gendarme (as Dalibert)

Storyline

Fed up with his wife Blandine, an alcoholic shrew, Paul Braconnier decides to get rid of her. But before taking action, the sly fox first consults a lawyer and skilfully finds out from him about the best way to go about murdering her. Back home, as his wife tries to poison him, Paul stabs her to death. The lawyer, who had talked too much, has no other choice but to have his client acquitted, even though this one cheerfully admits his guilt to the court. Paul returns to his village hailed as the local hero.

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Plot Keywords:

proto giallo | death | rat poison | pharmacist | lawyer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Because the actor did not like doing retakes, Guitry accomodated Michel Simon by filming all of his shots in only one take.The actor later said in an interview, that La Poison was the most enjoyable experience he had making a movie in his entire long career.

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Crazy Credits

There are no normal opening credits, director Sacha Guitry introduces everyone in the film.

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Connections

Remade as A Crime in Paradise (2001)

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Soundtracks

Et la Vie est en Fête
Music by Louiguy
Lyrics by Sacha Guitry
Performed by Lucienne Delyle

User Reviews

Taking a Lawyer's Advice

Michel Simon is married to Germaine Reuver and they hate each other. He complains about her to everyone in town. One night, he hears Jean Debucourt on the radio. Debucourt is a lawyer who has won his hundredth acquittal and is interviewed on the subject. So Simon goes to the lawyer and confesses that he has killed his wife, draws out the details of how he has done it -- with an eye towards acquittal -- nd goes home to kill her. When Debucourt shows up, Simon proceeds to blackmail the lawyer into mounting his defense in this excessively funny black comedy from Sacha Guitry.

If you want someone to play a monster and yet be very human and funny, you could never do any better than Michel Simon. Watching his ego grow, from that of a man frightened to go home to one lecturing judges in court, he makes everyone his straight man, thanks to Guitry's script (obviously written for his star's talents).

Guitry offers his credits in an unusual manner: he strolls around the set, complimenting his major collaborators, who appear as themselves -- although a couple who are heard only over the radio are thanked over the phone. It's a thoroughly theatrical invention from an artist who straddled stage and screen.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

30 November 1951 (France)

Also Known As:

Poison

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1