Le Domino vert (1935)

Le Domino vert is a German film first released in 1935, directed by Henri Decoin and Herbert Selpin.  The film stars Danielle Darrieux, Charles Vanel, Maurice Escande and Daniel Lecourtois.  It has also been released under the title: The Green Domino.  Our overall rating for this film is: very good.


A wealthy young heiress falls in love with an art critic whose wife has been murdered.  Believing that his young mistress was guilty of this crime, the man confesses to the authorities that he was the murderer.  Twenty years later, the daughter of this liaison learns the identity of her father and sets out to prove his innocence...

This was something of a landmark for lovers of French cinema, as it brought together an iconic actress and an outstanding director, respectively Danielle Darrieux and Henri Decoin.  They married that same year and went on to make nine films together - six during and three after their marriage, despite an age gap of twenty-seven years. 

Trivia buffs will note the name Alfred Greven buried in the credits.  This was, of course, the cat that later became the head honcho of Continental, who lost no time in signing up Darrieux and Decoin for Premier Rendez-vous. 

Le Domino vert offers something of a mélange, part drama, part comedy, with some unorthodox flashbacks.   Against that, we're talking Darrieux here, barely eighteen years old but already seventeen films under her belt and well on the way to iconic status.  She is one of those creatures the camera loves - and still does in her 93rd year.  And when you throw in the great Charles Vanel as well what is there not to like?

© Leon Nock (London, England) 2010 

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