Hirsipuunkatu 135

Saw 7/19/15 via YouTube. The movie is carried by the acting, production values, music. The only flaw is the lack of a strong script. The scenario multiplies amusing incidents but nothing commensurately big develops. Louis Jourdan's Henri disappears for long stretches. Yet Rue de L'Estrapade is not exactly a "woman's picture", either. Anne Vernon as deceived spouse Francoise has a virtuously tentative encounter with a sexually ambidextrous couturier (Jean Servais); in the Latin Quarter digs she establishes after escaping from her philandering husband she successfully fends off singing bohemian neighbor Robert, played by Becker veteran Daniel Gelin. Thin script and all, there was enough believability in the mix for these great actors to make it work. Maybe the absence of a strong payoff to Francoise's inchoate infidelities adds to the film's sense of authenticity, keeping the performances within the bounds of plausibility. The prettily melodic title music was pleasant to hear in its multiple reappearances throughout the movie. All in all a very pleasant movie. Not quite up to Becker-great, but managing to entertain for over an hour and a half is success enough for me. I would recommend this subtitle-free version to French language students. The soundtrack is clear and the dialogue written just idiomatically enough to remain understandable without descending into argot.