Le Crime ne paie pas (1962) - film review

Segment one: Lucrezia kills her unfaithful lover but she doesn’t expect that his other mistress will take revenge on her... Segment two: In 1878, Clovis Hughes kills one his many political rivals in a duel. Intent on revenge, his wife Jeanne murders a man and a trial is inevitable... Segment three: In 1913, because the manipulative Gabrielle Fenayrou wants her husband Martin dead she asks her lover to kill him, but things are not what they seem... Segment four: In 1960, Pierre Marsais and his mistress plan to murder the former’s wife Lucienne, but when Pierre is accidentally killed the plan still goes ahead...
© Willems Henri (Brussels, Belgium)

The former actor Max Gérard Houry Tannenbaum, better known as Gérard Oury, made his directing debut in 1959 with La Main chaude, which was followed by La Menace in 1960.  His next project, Le Crime ne paie pas (1961), was a much more impressive offering.  This crime drama was a Franco- Italian- British co-production, adapted from cartoons published between 1950 and 1972 in the French newspaper France Soir.  The Mask, The Hugues Case, The Fenayrou Case and The Man on the Avenue are four stories where jealousy, passion, vengeance and honour provide the motive for murder.

Several big names of French cinema were invited by Gérard Oury to participate in this criminal extravaganza.  Actor François Périer agreed to lend his voice to guide us through the various historical settings of the film, starting on a Venetian night in the 15th century and ending at Christmas Eve 1961.  A divine musical score by the master, Georges Delerue, perfectly complements the film’s atmospheric and intimate moments.  Finally, let us not forget the cleverly chosen supporting actors and quality performances from the four leading luminaries that are Edwige Feuillère, Michèle Morgan, Annie Girardot and Danielle Darrieux.  Even a barrage of criticism could not prevent the film from attracting an audience of 1.3 million, making this Gérard Oury’s first major hit.

During filming, the actor Louis de Funès (who plays a small part, in the one and only funny scene of the film) said to director Oury: "Deep inside of me I feel that you are more a comedy director, and I’m pretty sure that you will totally express yourself the day that you accept that."  Strangely enough, after this film, Gérard Oury made history with Le Corniaud, La Grande vadrouille, La Folie des grandeurs and L’As des as, four of the most popular French films of all time.  Le Crime ne paie pas is available on DVD, but only in a box set containing three of Oury’s other films. It’s not a crime to buy it!

© Willems Henri (Brussels, Belgium) 2012

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