Dernière jeunesse (1939)
Directed by Jeff Musso

Film Review

After winning the Prix Louis-Delluc for his 1938 film Le Puritain, director Jeff Musso immediately set about adapting another of Liam O'Flaherty's novels, The Black Soul, with Marlene Dietrich lined up for the lead role.  The outbreak of WWII put paid to this project but, at the Scalera studios in Italy, Musso managed to make another film based on O'Flaherty's Mr. Gilhooley.  That film, Dernière jeunesse, paired one of French cinema's greatest actors, Raimu, with Jacqueline Delubac, who had acquired a certain notoriety a few years earlier by marrying the 50-year-old director Sacha Guitry at the age of 28.  In one of his more controversial roles, Raimu plays a misanthropic 50-something who is driven insane by lust for his young protégée, Delubac at her most sensual.

The plot of Dernière jeunesse vaguely resembles that of Jean Renoir's earlier film, La Chienne (1931), the obvious difference being that in Musso's film the object of desire is entirely blameless (well, almost).  The script and direction both lack the inspired touch of Musso's previous film, and were it not for Raimu's intensely poignant and sometimes disturbing portrayal the film would be easy to overlook.  Pierre Brasseur is wasted in a supporting role that doesn't do justice to his talents and Delubac fails to the show the commitment that was very much in evidence in her previous films for Guitry.  Dernière jeunesse is a middling melodrama that is redeemed by a startlingly bleak ending and a chillingly authentic performance from Raimu.

Film Synopsis

Georges returns to France, having lived most of his life in the colonies, a solitary and world-weary man.  One evening, he makes the acquaintance of Marcelle, an impoverished young woman who is tired of life.  Despite himself, Georges takes pity on Marcelle and allows her to spend the night at his lodgings.  Georges's landlady immediately thinks the worst of this and sends him packing.  Georges and Marcelle end up sharing a hotel room together and their friendship soon restores their spirits.  But whereas Marcelle regards her benefactor only as a kind friend, Georges soon finds he is in love with her and becomes wildly jealous when she begins going out with other men...