La Revanche de Roger la Honte (1946)
Directed by André Cayatte

Film Review

Released in October 1946, six months after Roger la Honte (1946), this visually striking sequel confirmed André Cayatte's reputation as one of France's most promising new filmmakers and anticipates the important judiciary-themed films that were to come.  Reprising their roles, Lucien Coëdel and María Casares are as compelling and enigmatic as they were in the first film, and here they are joined by rising stars Simone Valère and Jean Desailly, both excellent.  Charles Spaak's screenplay captures the human feeling, complexity and dark irony of Jules Mary's famous novel and is admirably brought to life by a superb ensemble of immensely talented character actors.  Exterior films involving vintage cars (circa 1900) lighten a dark intrigue in which a decent man is forced against his will to seek revenge to safeguard the honour of his daughter.  Lucien Coëdel's tragic death, a year after the film's release, robbed French cinema of one of its most accomplished actors and partly explains why La Revanche de Roger la Honte and its predecessor are now virtually forgotten, despite being an important milestone in Cayatte's career.

Film Synopsis

Twelve years have passed.  Under the name Farrell, Laroque has settled in Canada, where he has made a fortune.  But Suzanne, now a ravishing young woman, is haunted by the drama that upset her childhood.  On the pretext of attending a car race, Laroque decides to return to Paris with Suzanne to uncover the truth of what happened.  Suzanne will take part in the competition, driving the prototype created by her father.  Her rivals include Raymond de Noirville, the son of Lucien and Julia.  Having caused an accident that injures Suzanne and leads her to be eliminated from the race, Raymond soon realises that he has fallen in love with her.  With the help of a private detective agency, Laroque begins an investigation.  He revisits Julia, but she refuses to disclose the identity of the person who killed Gerbier...