Le Monte-Charge (1962)
Directed by Marcel Bluwal

Film Review

The French-Polish filmmaker Marcel Bluwal is best known for his work for French television but he also made two notable films for cinema: Le Monte-charge (1962) and Carambolages (1963).  The first of these is a respectable crime drama, closely based on a novel by Frédéric Dard.  The film's main strength is its script, which has stood the test of time very well.  The characters have psychological depth and the plot makes a well-oiled suspense thriller.  The casting is magnificent and who can fail to be enthralled by the cat and mouse game between Robert Herbin and Marthe Dravet?  On the technical front the film impresses with its high-angle shots and moody exterior street scenes, redolent of classic film noir. 

Georges Delerue's well-honed score accompanies a first-rate cast. Robert Hossein (Dard's one-time accomplice) lugs his restless physique around, the perfect contrast to the supremely elegant Italian actress Léa Massari, who appeared with Alain Delon around this time in Alain Cavalier's beautiful film L'Insoumis.  Maurice Biraud is equally well-cast as the naive and lecherous witness, whilst Robert Dalban is a welcome addition as the inspector who is determined to uncover the mystery of a suspicious death.  In spite of some impressive taglines such as 'he thought he'd found love, she thought she'd found an alibi', Le Monte-charge was only a modest success, attracting an audience of 0.9 million, but it is nevertheless well worth a DVD release.

Film Synopsis

Released from prison one Christmas evening, Robert Herbin tries to contact his mother, only to find that she died whilst he was in jail.  Alone and uncertain where to go, Robert enters a café where he meets a solitary woman and her young daughter.  The woman, Marthe, pleases Robert and, out of kindness, he escorts her and her child back to her apartment.  Marthe tells Robert that her husband is away on business but she resists his attempts to seduce her.  Later, Marthe changes her mind and invites the stranger back to her apartment.  On his return, Robert is surprised to find the dead body of Marthe's husband...