I enjoyed very much this film !!
Maigret receives from an old acquaintance the notice that a burglar, who intented to steal things in a house of the neighborhood of Neuilly, saw the corpse of a woman.
The performance of Michael Lonsdale as Mr. Serre, the cynical dentist is extraordinary.
6 Reviews
Redeemed by the great Michael Lonsdale
lucyrfisher28 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Lonsdale is always worth watching. Here he is a mummy's boy who gives nothing away during hours, and hours of interrogation. As usual, the atmosphere and interiors are wonderful, and Cremer is a brooding, bear-like presence. Ernestine is well played, and Maigret visits the Serre's maid - probably only to show off the way the set dressers have recreated a small apartment of the 50s, with knicknacks and tiny gas stove. Madame Maigret appears - played by a different actress? - to no good purpose.
There's much I love about this series, but why do the writers tweak all the stories slightly? Sometimes missing the point in the progress. The furniture-moving in Maigret and the Old Lady is supposed to reveal Rose's spyhole! And a change of perpetrator in Maigret's Mistake makes the title meaningless.
Here an unnecessary first wife, and a money motive, are introduced. The story was fine as it was. In Simenon's original, Serre met his wife through the small ads, probably to his mother's disgust. Here it's almost an arranged marriage to get hold of her money. Mme Serre's original motive (jealousy) was quite adequate and creepy enough. (In this version she makes a slip of the tongue and talks of herself and her son sharing a ROOM rather than a home.)
Where did they get all those extremely plain actors who form Maigret's crew?
There's much I love about this series, but why do the writers tweak all the stories slightly? Sometimes missing the point in the progress. The furniture-moving in Maigret and the Old Lady is supposed to reveal Rose's spyhole! And a change of perpetrator in Maigret's Mistake makes the title meaningless.
Here an unnecessary first wife, and a money motive, are introduced. The story was fine as it was. In Simenon's original, Serre met his wife through the small ads, probably to his mother's disgust. Here it's almost an arranged marriage to get hold of her money. Mme Serre's original motive (jealousy) was quite adequate and creepy enough. (In this version she makes a slip of the tongue and talks of herself and her son sharing a ROOM rather than a home.)
Where did they get all those extremely plain actors who form Maigret's crew?
A Little Too Much Gallic Sang Froid
TondaCoolwal5 March 2023
As others have commented, it is interesting to compare a French version of Maigret with the better known English-speaking ones. The story involves fading prostitute Ernestine advising Maigret that her burglar husband Alf discovered a body whilst on a job at a dentist's house in Neuilly. When the Chief investigates, the dentist M. Serre and his mother, state that no burglary has taken place. However, it is revealed that the dentist's wife did leave acrimoniously on the evening the burglary apparently occurred. Replaced window panes suggest that the Serres are not telling the truth but, they both refuse to answer questions. As time goes on it becomes clear that Madame Serre is obsessed with money and social status, both of which were thrown away by her profligate husband but then regained by her son's two marriages to rich, connected women.
To be honest, I was not overly impressed by this production. The pace is far too slow and it seems to have been made on the cheap. The action rarely moves beyond the confines of the dentist's house or the police station. Even the dragging of the river for the body is simply reported to Maigret without any location shots. There is little attempt at period atmosphere apart from the ubiquitous police Citroen and the fact that everybody smokes! The final third of the episode consists simply of interminable interviews of Serre and his mother in the hope that one of them will crack. The Rupert Davies version of this episode was nowhere near as tedious and the flushing out of the truth was very well done. I wouldn't call Davies dynamic but, he makes Cremer look like a waxwork!
To be honest, I was not overly impressed by this production. The pace is far too slow and it seems to have been made on the cheap. The action rarely moves beyond the confines of the dentist's house or the police station. Even the dragging of the river for the body is simply reported to Maigret without any location shots. There is little attempt at period atmosphere apart from the ubiquitous police Citroen and the fact that everybody smokes! The final third of the episode consists simply of interminable interviews of Serre and his mother in the hope that one of them will crack. The Rupert Davies version of this episode was nowhere near as tedious and the flushing out of the truth was very well done. I wouldn't call Davies dynamic but, he makes Cremer look like a waxwork!
"My son has no secrets from me."
garywhalen18 August 2023
The Bruno Cremer "Maigret" series is exceptional and reminds me of those great British books-to-television mystery series from the 80s/90s such as Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes, David Suchet's Hercule Poirot, and (my favorite) John Thaw's Inspector Morse. What I enjoy most about the Cremer series is how well it captures the atmosphere--from bars and bistros and apartments and mansions to the wet pavement of the streets to the peripheral noises to the varied dialogue to the quiet moments--that the author George Simenon brings to his books (both his "Maigret" titles and his other novels--I've read them all). One doesn't read Simenon's Maigret mysteries simply for setup, epiphanous moment, and denouement. I would say the same is true of watching this series. Getting to and finding out "Who did it?" matters, yes, but only a bit. The best parts are the lingering moments in between.
One wise decision made in developing this Maigret series is that all episodes are set in the late 40s through the 50s. Simenon's Maigret novels span across several decades (30s - early 70s) and the change in ages, fashions, cars, and architecture would have been a challenge. And of course, there would have been the war years and the German occupation of Paris.
"Maigret and the Burglar's Wife" is not exactly about a burglar's wife. Yes, she's a character and an important one but she's not the centerpiece. Her husband the burglar was on a job, she tells Maigret, and stumbled on a body, she says, and it's clear the person was murdered, she claims. And now her husband the burglar is in hiding. From this odd conversation we the viewers are soon immersed into the lives of a middle-aged dentist and his mother. Michael Lonsdale perfectly captures the isolated, seemingly emotionless dentist Serre. As Maigret probes, Serre and his mother reveal little. Was there a murder? There is no body. If there is a murder, then what possible motive might there have been? Maigret chips away gathering bits and pieces to determine what did happen . . . If something happened. This episode remains true to the book in both plot and mood. I must tell you that there is no action but lots of conversations. But watching Cremer as Maigret question Lonsdale as Serre is worth your time. These are two actors who understand that you don't have to chew up the scenery to captivate a viewer. (Oh, and I can't resist: One reviewer asks repeatedly "Where is Lucas?" Well, I think he is mentioned once in the book upon which this episode is based, so his not being in this episode is OK.)
One wise decision made in developing this Maigret series is that all episodes are set in the late 40s through the 50s. Simenon's Maigret novels span across several decades (30s - early 70s) and the change in ages, fashions, cars, and architecture would have been a challenge. And of course, there would have been the war years and the German occupation of Paris.
"Maigret and the Burglar's Wife" is not exactly about a burglar's wife. Yes, she's a character and an important one but she's not the centerpiece. Her husband the burglar was on a job, she tells Maigret, and stumbled on a body, she says, and it's clear the person was murdered, she claims. And now her husband the burglar is in hiding. From this odd conversation we the viewers are soon immersed into the lives of a middle-aged dentist and his mother. Michael Lonsdale perfectly captures the isolated, seemingly emotionless dentist Serre. As Maigret probes, Serre and his mother reveal little. Was there a murder? There is no body. If there is a murder, then what possible motive might there have been? Maigret chips away gathering bits and pieces to determine what did happen . . . If something happened. This episode remains true to the book in both plot and mood. I must tell you that there is no action but lots of conversations. But watching Cremer as Maigret question Lonsdale as Serre is worth your time. These are two actors who understand that you don't have to chew up the scenery to captivate a viewer. (Oh, and I can't resist: One reviewer asks repeatedly "Where is Lucas?" Well, I think he is mentioned once in the book upon which this episode is based, so his not being in this episode is OK.)
A realistic and psychological investigation
dragonfroid-7079813 December 2020
Bruno Cremer has a definite charisma and the investigation is all in depth.
This makes a big difference from the American investigations where the cop wins by doing a flip-flop and shooting a gun.
Here we are dealing with a real and very realistic investigation (except when we see a gendarme giving the police commissioner the answer: in France the gendarmerie and the police are two totally different services).
Second inconsistency: the search warrant. This does not exist in France! It is typically American.
For the rest, it's very gratifying to "get into" the heads of the characters in this way. Thank you and see you next time for the other episodes !
Here we are dealing with a real and very realistic investigation (except when we see a gendarme giving the police commissioner the answer: in France the gendarmerie and the police are two totally different services).
Second inconsistency: the search warrant. This does not exist in France! It is typically American.
For the rest, it's very gratifying to "get into" the heads of the characters in this way. Thank you and see you next time for the other episodes !
Interesting to compare Maigret versions
Tony-Holmes8 February 2023
***I haven't seen this episode yet, but will soon, as the UK Talking Pictures channel is showing this French version -- we saw last year (2022) the complete set of episodes of the BBC's 1960's Maigret -- with an acclaimed performance by Rupert Davies in the lead.
We've also seen the Michael Gambon Maigret, 2 series each of 6 episodes, all very well done on a bigger budget than the BBC ones (not difficult!), and the Gambon episodes DID include this one, set at the house of a dentist.
One of Maigret's underworld acquaintances reports finding a body, whilst attempting a burglary. As a murder trumps a burglary, Maigret sets out to make some enquiries.
The dentist (& his mother) seem quite sure that no burglary happened. But has he been doing some DIY repairs?! And has the wife really gone to visit someone back in Holland?
One thing I must do is correct the review by Dragonfroid, who says "search warrants do not exist in France!. Well, they may not be called that, but this is in Wikipedia :- In particular, except for crimes in flagrante delicto, law enforcement forces may not conduct searches or arrests without a specific commission from the investigative magistrate. Sounds quite like a search warrant then?!
***And NOW I have seen this one, second viewing of the Cremer Maigret, and it can be hard going! All done at a very leisurely pace (very French, lots of atmosphere, lots of brooding thoughtful looks!), with what frankly seemed some padding, to fill the time, an extra half-hour as opposed to the Gambon version (which told the story perfectly well).
Excellent acting though - this one had Michael Lonsdale (star of Day of the Jackal) as the dentist, superb as he staunchly denied all accusations, while seeing Maigret close the web around him (& his mother). A couple of oddities, absolutely no sight of Lucas (they used his office) that's very strange as the books all make clear HE is Maigret's R-H man. And Mrs Maigret appears ( a brief but nice portrayal) though she actually attends Maigret's OFFICE, which I think is unknown in the books I've read, and definitely never happens in the Davies and Gambon versions. What DID Lucas do to upset these producers?!!
We've also seen the Michael Gambon Maigret, 2 series each of 6 episodes, all very well done on a bigger budget than the BBC ones (not difficult!), and the Gambon episodes DID include this one, set at the house of a dentist.
One of Maigret's underworld acquaintances reports finding a body, whilst attempting a burglary. As a murder trumps a burglary, Maigret sets out to make some enquiries.
The dentist (& his mother) seem quite sure that no burglary happened. But has he been doing some DIY repairs?! And has the wife really gone to visit someone back in Holland?
One thing I must do is correct the review by Dragonfroid, who says "search warrants do not exist in France!. Well, they may not be called that, but this is in Wikipedia :- In particular, except for crimes in flagrante delicto, law enforcement forces may not conduct searches or arrests without a specific commission from the investigative magistrate. Sounds quite like a search warrant then?!
***And NOW I have seen this one, second viewing of the Cremer Maigret, and it can be hard going! All done at a very leisurely pace (very French, lots of atmosphere, lots of brooding thoughtful looks!), with what frankly seemed some padding, to fill the time, an extra half-hour as opposed to the Gambon version (which told the story perfectly well).
Excellent acting though - this one had Michael Lonsdale (star of Day of the Jackal) as the dentist, superb as he staunchly denied all accusations, while seeing Maigret close the web around him (& his mother). A couple of oddities, absolutely no sight of Lucas (they used his office) that's very strange as the books all make clear HE is Maigret's R-H man. And Mrs Maigret appears ( a brief but nice portrayal) though she actually attends Maigret's OFFICE, which I think is unknown in the books I've read, and definitely never happens in the Davies and Gambon versions. What DID Lucas do to upset these producers?!!
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