Les Granges brulées (1973)

Les Granges brulées is a French crime film first released in 1973, directed by Jean Chapot.  The film stars Alain Delon, Simone Signoret, Paul Crauchet, Bernard Le Coq and Christian Barbier.  It has also been released under the title: Suspect of Murder.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


In an isolated, snow-covered region of France, Rose lives with her family on a remote farm.  When the body of a young woman is found nearby, suspicion falls on Rose’s two sons, Paul and Louis, who were away from home at the time of the murder.  Pierre Larcher investigates the murder, but as he does so he uncovers some secrets about Rose’s family which were best left untouched…

Two years after their improbable appearance together in La Veuve Couderc, Alain Delon and Simone Signoret were brought together for a second time, and in a similar setting.  This time, the fiction is a familiar crime investigation, but, unlike the conventional policier, the emphasis is much more on character than plot.  Some respectable performances (from a distinguished cast) and good location photography compensate for a lacklustre script, although Jean-Michel Jarre’s music is far too intrusive and effectively ruins the mood of the piece.  Simone Signoret’s daughter in the film is played by her real-life daughter, Catherine Allégret.

© James Travers 2005

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