Henri-Georges Clouzot's first film gives little hint of the future, great neo Hitchcockian director of "Diabolique". What we have here is, at best, half ass, Gallic Agatha Christie with far too much comic relief in place of tension and uneasiness for which such relief would be needed. And it's not as if the comedy is all that funny! Indeed, Suzy Delair is so annoying with her screechy voice and constant yelling that I was hoping against hope that she would be one of Monsieur Durand's early victims. I will say, however, that I did not see the denouement coming and its theme of collaboration is appropriate to a film made in France in 1942. C plus.
Review of The Murderer Lives at Number 21
