User Reviews

Yes, I really appreciate that film noir directed by the famous Raoul André, director of some lousy comedies with Serrault, Poiret, Yanne, Galabru, Francis Blanche, ... and so many more. But "la Planque" is really serious, with lot of fine twists. During WWII, a french resistant hides in an asylum before reaching London. But... The whole story is exciting from beginning to end, with some creepy score in the Francis Blanche sequences. And Francis Blanche is so frightening. Mouloudji is also perfect as the resistant who suffers again and again and again. Recently released by René Chateau (it says a lot about the quality of the edition).

I don't know if the screenplay was inspired by the Sam Fuller's masterpiece: SHOCK CORRIDOR, but I assure you that the two stories are so close that you could barely put a razor blade in between. A runaway man from the Gestapo, in France, during WW2, finds shelter in a mental institution, a psychiatric hospital lead by a friend of his. Our lead has no choice if he wants to escape from the Nazis. I have not seen all the Raoul André's films but, so far, that's his very best effort. He made, for most of all, corny, lousy tongue in cheek action comedy flicks. Corny, lousy and tongue in cheek but amusing time wasters made in France. So that film which I am talking about is far different from the other Raoul André's features, for sure. Totally different. I even doubt if he actually directed it himself. I usually more or less recognize a director's piece of work. Most of them have their own trade mark. But, here, I admit that I am astonished.

A true intelligent drama, so rare with Raoul André and his usually silly movies.