Maigret (TV Series) Maigret: Night at the Crossroads (2017) User Reviews

The best so far

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 23 April 2017]

I'll be honest, the first two offerings I wasn't exactly full of praise for, but this third offering has very much changed my opinion. Everything feels settled, solid and somehow familiar. I now feel used to the concept of Rowan Atkinson as Maigret, and I feel he himself is now more comfortable in the role. Night at the Crossroads isn't my favourite story, but as a production it came to life, the performances were first rate, Thomas Wlaschiha stole the show for me, as he so often does, but he was fantastic, so diverse an actor. Lucy Cohu I still think is a joy as Maigret's wife. The only criticism I had was the performance of Kevin McNally, who's Grandjean was a little too much, somehow it seemed like he over-relished his role of villain, and was a little hammy.

Great production values, this episode I feel has turned the series around, I now cannot wait for the next episode. A very solid 8/10

Looked perfect

[210west · 7/10 · 2 August 2017]

As usual, I couldn't entirely follow the plot -- partly, let me add, because it was hard to make out all the dialogue -- but the look of this production was superb, ditto the atmosphere, the sense of time and place. (Those Hungarian location managers deserve much praise.) The performances are all first-rate. Rowan Atkinson is a surprisingly sour, solemn, owlish, glum, taciturn little Maigret, and he's not especially likable; that's far from the character I remember from the books, and one wonders why Madame Maigret is so faithful to him. However, he does leave one with the impression that he'd be capable of actually solving a knotty murder. And it was pleasing, in this particular story, to see Dorothy Atkinson again (surely no relation) -- always a fascinating actress.

The secrets of Three Windows Crossroad!

[Reno-Rangan · 7/10 · 24 November 2017]

The third film in the ITV's latest television franchise, starring Rowan Atkinson in the title role. It was aired earlier this year, but I've decided to watch it later, which is now, because the fourth will be coming out around the same time. This is another good addition to the series, but not the best one. The first one was good. The second was a little lesser than that. And now this one comes between them two.

Obviously I anticipated it to be good, since Atkinson in it, doing out of his usual, and a character like Jules Maigret, it's always a high hope. According to many, this is the best one so far, and I can see their reason. But I'm on the different side. Of course I enjoyed it. It was one of the decent detective films. Especially for the television standards, it is better than most of the others. And giving a new meaning for a popular detective from the fictional world was a well done. Though one of my issues with Maigret's screenspace in this particular tale.

It was based on the book of the same name. Yet again, they are set to solve another murder mystery in the Paris. Maigret is the prime decoder of such puzzle, though I was not happy with how his parts were handled. That means the other character around him had got better scope. That includes the other side of the character, like the baddies. Until the finale you won't know who is the villain, but the film covered enough everyone involving in this narration.

❝And there was a moment when I thought you might be a ticket worth buying, as well.❞

Started off with the death of a Jewish diamond merchant and framed someone else for it. There's no clear data available whose behind it and the reason. Maigret got involved in the case, but another inspector argues its his. They get along and try to solve it. The mystery is not the murder, but as the title hints, a place little outside Paris called Three Windows Crossroad. Ultimately, after all the attempts, Maigret ends up there at one night, which brings a light to the probe.

The end was not surprising enough, hence the reason I did not like it as the other viewers. It was not about prediction. For that, one must keep close eye on Miagret and his expressions, which is a clue to guess what could come next. Well, the cast was amazing. The settings and the direction too. Being a detective film, it had all those ingredients. So anybody would enjoy watching it, but that's not same as it will become your favourite crime solving film. If that happens, well, then that's good.

Most of the story taking place outside the Paris, makes it look like a tale that could be from any timeline. Unlike the books that sets in the 30s, these films were in the 50s. Little slow paced narrative, but it's nothing to do with the story and the characters which were so well established. I have never seen films, series or read stories about Jules Maigret before, so I liked this film series thus far. The next one due in less than a month. As always hoping that would beat all the expectations and becomes the best one.

6.5/10

Stunning portrayal of a great detective

[chaswii · 10/10 · 28 January 2018]

First off, I must say that I've been an avid fan of British television detectives for many years .. starting with the wondrous (Granada Television) Sherlock Holmes mysteries. As I watched Rowan Atkinson in this episode of the new Maigret series, I was brought back to those days. Though the mysteries take place in Paris, and Maigret is French, I personally have no qualms about the production. To be honest, the thing that irritates me about the great Poirot series with David Suchet, is the fact that his accent is so thick, I cannot understand the dialogue sometimes. With this series, I don't have this problem whatsoever, and that is refreshing. The direction of these Maigret episodes is quite superb, and I quickly become absorbed into the story lines. More than anything else, I am most impressed with the casting of Rowan Atkinson as the lead. As a dramatic actor, his portrayal of Maigret is stunning. His steadfast calm, and confidence in good old-fashioned police work knits the cast together in each episode. He trusts no one, and lets the evidence lead where it leads. This "Crossroads" episode is the best so far, and I am really hoping they continue more of them. I'll be waiting with a bowl of buttered popcorn, knowing I won't be disappointed in any part of the show. Great stuff indeed !! .

It really worked

[robert-temple-1 · 10/10 · 16 April 2017]

This is the latest ITV Maigret feature film starring Rowan Atkinson as Maigret. It is based on a novel by Simenon entitled LA NUIT DU CARREFOUR (THE NIGHT OF THE CROSSROADS), which has an interesting cinematic history. It was the very first Simenon novel ever to be filmed, and of course the first Maigret film, in 1932. That was directed by Jean Renoir, and it was a dreary and inept film which was frankly a complete failure (NIGHT AT THE CROSSROADS, 1932, see my review). The novel was more successfully filmed again in 1992 as an episode in the French Maigret series starring Bruno Cremer. However, this new film of the novel is even better, and is a complete success. It is absolutely superb. Atkinson has achieved perfection now in his portrayal of Maigret, and together with that fact, the script by Stewart Harcourt and the direction by Sarah Harding have turned out a spectacular example of drama for ITV, of which everyone can justly be proud. Tom Wlaschiha does a particularly excellent job of portraying the mysterious and tormented character of the Dane who calls himself Andersen, and Mia Jexen does an excellent job also as his equally mysterious 'sister' Else. I would say that Kevin McNally slightly over-acted as Inspector Grandjean, thereby letting us know too early that Grandjean was a 'baddie'. That all could have been done much more subtly, and not telegraphed, and the director should have given him better direction and told him to tone it down. Katherine Kanter did very well as Sarah Goldberg, a part which required a great deal of poise to make up for very little dialogue. I think I should also specially mention Wanda Opalinska, who played the minor character of Jojo, and who might normally not get mentioned in a review. She added a great deal to her small part, using her own wits and instincts, and correctly judging just the right level of suspicious glances and nervous reactions. The production design and music were excellent, as was the case with the previous films in this series. We have really terrific drama here, and let us hope they go on and on.

Beautiful but disappointing

[lucyrfisher · 14 June 2017]

Another wonderful story from Georges Simenon. The production team have got everything right down to the last detail. The garage full of old cars, the unmade roads, the shabby kitchen of the decaying mansion. The bizarre inhabitants, the girl who has to be locked in her room "for safety". But ultimately it's disappointing. Rowan Atkinson is a good Maigret, but he lacks the character's humour (which Michael Gambon had in spades). Atkinson is too solemn, and - fatally - the writers and director have made him soft-centred. He twinkles slightly at the girl, when she tries to seduce him, but in a melancholy way. Gambon would have flirted back. She is impressed that he doesn't respond, but merely treats her burned fingers. I feel this incident is not in the book (the writers needed a pretext to bring them closer), even though Simenon is always concerned about what characters eat and drink. (Maigret decides the girl needs some poached eggs – but surely Maigret can't cook?)

Madame Maigret is given a plonkingly 21st-century speech about the difficulty of being married to a policeman. Anachronistic, and also Cop Show Cliché No. 794.

And finally: the director loves filming characters in long shot while they are making a long speech full of plot exposition. And many young actors think that naturalism means keeping your face immobile. I turned on the subtitles.

Something missing

[bob998 · 6/10 · 19 May 2018]

I could grumble about the missing elements in this episode: how there is very little suspense (the shooting of the jeweller's wife is so cursory, so hurried that we barely register it), how the plot gets mangled in the course of the story--it's a major flaw to omit the Paris scene, or Andersen's flight to Belgium, the mediocrity of some of the actors. Still, the decors look pretty good--those Hungarian technicians are capable of recreating French country scenes--and Atkinson is settling down in his part. The Bruno Cremer version is the one to see; it has far better acting and the action is more convincing.

Makes Broadchurch look like Scooby-Doo!

[khunkrumark · 9/10 · 17 April 2017]

This is the third outing of the latest reboot of a familiar character on British TV. Twenty-five years ago (In the early nineties) Michael Gambon played the lead on TV. Before that, a moody Rupert Davis was the man in charge of an early 1960s version for the BBC. This time around a mature Rowan Atkinson is at the helm with a more reserved, stoic and academic interpretation of the French policeman.

Maigret's Night at the Crossroads starts with a Jewish jewel fence called Goldberg who goes against his wife's wishes and tries to pull off a last job before moving to America. He's shot at a quiet crossroads in the countryside just outside Paris and his body is discovered the next morning in the garage of a secretive man with a disfigured body and a serious eye problem.

Once again the story has perfection in every department. This is the very best of British television drama. The suspects slowly unfold into the narrative and the story glacially meanders to its logical conclusion. If anything, this third installment has a bit more 'action' than the first two tales. A couple of shootings and just a bit of running around in the dark. But mostly the focus is on the exquisite stories of all the characters, their motives and their surroundings.

Too may reviewers have spent too much time on the lead actor... which to me is a distraction from almost perfect TV drama. Congratulations to commercial television for taking a chance and doing something right. There is too much public attention thrown towards other more frothy cop shows but this rendition of Maigret makes Broadchurch look like an episode of Scooby-Doo!

Make a cup of Horlicks, draw the curtains and ignore the rain then settle in for a bloody good drama.

Not Mr Bean - and not quite Maigret either

[Tony-Holmes · 6/10 · 4 September 2022]

I found this episode review almost by accident, as I wanted to remind myself of this version of the story, having just seen the one in the original 1960s series, with Rupert Davies.

Some interesting reviews of the Atkinson episode, which dealt capably with the story, though the element of police corruption wasn't in the Davies version at all (at only one hour long, they had to get a move on?!).

These Atkinson versions are very cinematic, as other reviews have stated, and they clearly had a good budget to give lots of atmospheric detail in both interior and exterior shots. Maigret's team are well played, and Mrs Maigret is again very sympathetically played.

But these episodes are 2 hours long, less ads and titles, and that is frankly a bit too long, with problems for pacing, and a suspicion of padding here and there. The Davies and Gambon versions were both better in that respect.

AND - crucially - in those the actual Maigret character is far more faithful to the original Simenon books, Davies and Gambon both ARE Maigret, big, gruff figures, who could show some humour, and some frustration sometimes. Atkinson is tall, but lean, and looks for most of these shows as if he's been embalmed. Maybe he was trying to avoid any hint of his comedy past, especially with the mightily tedious Mr Bean, which featured enough facial contortions for a country 'gurning' contest, but the director should have nudged him into something a bit more accurate? I'm pretty sure that long-term Maigret fans would have preferred that sort of interpretation?

Finally, after the wretched BBC attempts at Mysteries, we have something great!

[mshavzin · 10/10 · 12 June 2017]

I was giving up on a good British mystery being made ever again. The BBC stole the rights to Agatha Chriostie from ITV, and left the pretty good Marple series unfinished. Instead we had the foulness of the new Partners in Crime, where we have no mystery, a plot so stupid that you end up wanting to yell at the TV set, horrid acting, and the lead female character acting like she has her period the entire time on screen. Then we have the reanimated George Gently series, which I stopped watching after Detective Gently rolled his eyes when a witness said that world war two veterans were heroes. That turned me off completely. We have Father Brown, where you can guess who the murderer is, because they are always the most respectable and British person around....like I said; All garbage. I thought I was just going to have to keep on re watching Poirot with David Suchet, and Marple series with Julia McKenzie forever if i wanted to see a good mystery. But NO! Here we have the genuine thing! Well acted. Not slavishly similar to the novels, but a good synergistic mix of new and old. A real interesting mystery which I did not guess, and also real fleshed out characters. I want MORE!!!

Very atmospheric and sombre

[safenoe · 7/10 · 3 December 2020]

It's a shame there were only four Maigret in the Rowan Atkinson series. Maybe it can be revised please? Anyway, the Hungarian countryside is golden and glorious, yet sombre at the same time, standing in well for France. All credit to the location scouts.

Some may find the English accents off-putting, especially as the series is set in France. At least 'Allo 'Allo had French accents of sorts, but here Maigret speaks perfect English.

Wish for more

[okie8600 · 10/10 · 22 December 2019]

I own the DVD of the four Maigret stories with Rowan Atkinson and Lucy Cohu and I think they are wonderful! I so wish they would make more stories of Maigret with these actors.

It all seems a bit French to me

[Karl Self · 5/10 · 7 May 2017]

I was certainly very excited, and from the get-go, at the prospect of Atkinson playing Maigret. At least to me, it seemed like a perfect match. And at last, here was a chance to see a Maigret of my generation.

Certainly, they've put a lot of effort into this production, it's beautifully shot and acted. But maybe they've tried to hard to impress with the stories. There's certainly always another twist and turn, but my credulity was always stretched very quickly beyond breaking point.

And it certainly was a challenge for the thespian of usually hyperactive, hyperverbal and hyperphysical role to turn out a pokerfaced observer of the human theatre, but I often had the Impression that Maigret was somehow recovering from a debilitating stroke: "Tell her ... that ... in this country ..." It reminded me less of Maigret and more of that wheezy wheelchair kid in Malcolm In The Middle.

Superb

[tpblyth-338-366292 · 27 February 2019]

Maigret is back in this third episode of the Rowan Atkinson era. The set design and costumes are superb. Bravo to ITV!

The production team have got everything right down to the last detail

[jacobgalama-36023 · 8/10 · 18 January 2018]

Lucyrfisher : "The production team have got everything right down to the last detail." Almost. The stories plays in 1930 or there abouts. I clearly see a peugeot 403 from 1956 driving out of the frame somewhere during the movie. But maybe they changed the time period for this episode

All 4 Atkinson films were good but itv cancelled it.

[ib011f9545i · 9/10 · 14 May 2019]

This is nearly as good as the Gambon 1980s version and is certainly quality drama.

So glad for dvd to remind me how good it was.

But ITV are not making anymore.

maigret

[mcmanimmjames · 10/10 · 21 August 2021]

Rowan atkinson , brilliant, Why did the Series Stop, He was magnificent, An equal to Micheal Gambon.

Atkinson's best performance of the series

[lminwill · 9/10 · 27 March 2022]

There was much to enjoy about this noir, but it was most fun watching Maigret becoming as taken, however briefly, with the femme fatale as the others she'd manipulated. It's a pity that Rowan Atkinson didn't get to play this delightful character in more than four episodes and that he's not done more drama in general. He's a marvelous comedic actor, but his performance as Maigret was a revelation. Here's hoping we'll see more dramatic roles in Atkinson's future.

Cant understand why more weren't made

[billsoccer · 8/10 · 7 January 2021]

This has everything one wants in a murder mystery: Great script, well-acted, plot twists. Just great. Mr. Bean should leave comedy behind - his portrayal of the Inspector is marvelous.