Pierre Chenal is one of the best-kept secrets of French Cinema and I've always had a lot of time for him despite his standing firmly in the second rank. Senior Citizens in England will possibly remember his Clochemerle, released more than half a century ago, though it is doubtful they would have registered his name even at the time, being more aware of the slightly risqué (to Englishmen) theme of the siting of a public urinal in the centre of a small town. There was nothing wrong with Clochemerle but Chenal could and did do better in such titles as L'Alibi, L'Assassin connait la musique, and La Foire aux chimeres. This was his very first film and if it wavers uncertainly between comedy and tragedy it is possibly because everyone has to learn his trade. With the exception of Paulette Dubost, who enjoyed a distinguished career in French cinema, the cast is totally unknown and even in France they were little better than journeymen. Nevertheless it's a decent effort and invaluable to Chenal enthusiasts.
3 Reviews
the first movie directed by Pierre Chenal is ....
happytrigger-64-39051712 January 2016
.... a comedy, with some few very sad moments. Pierre Chenal is still not enough recognized nowadays. Some might know "le Dernier Tournant" (because it is the first version of "the Postman Always Rings Twice") or "Rafles Sur la Ville" (with Piccoli, Mouloudji and Vanel) but who really knows his other films from the thirties with fantastic cast and inventive direction. And what about his true masterpiece "la Foire Aux Chimères" with Erich von Stroheim et Madeleine Sologne, still not available on DVD (and not even ever released on video cassette)? And I'm not talking about his films shot in Argentina, I would love to see them (I just saw "Section des Disparus", nice adaptation from William Irish).
In 1933, Pierre Chenal was tired of filming stones and tramps in documentaries. He met Christian Stengel who was going to produce his first movie, this "Martyre de l'Obèse". Chenal accepted it to realize his first fiction. It wasn't easy because of a lot of tension between him and the actors and technicians. The movie didn't work but Christian Stengel thought it was well done, so he produced and wrote other movies with Pierre Chenal, and real better ones.
"I consider Pierre as a nice man. Intelligent too : I trusted him when he began. After, there was friendship..." (Christian Stengel at Marly-le-Roi, 26-01-1985).
A first movie is seldom a masterpiece, but there are some good ideas in this one. Like at the banquet of the Club of 100 kilos, when the 17 guests get seated at the round table, a half moon of the table disappeared in front of each belly to let them install. An idea by Pierre Chenal who got inspired by Louis VI the Big.
In 1933, Pierre Chenal was tired of filming stones and tramps in documentaries. He met Christian Stengel who was going to produce his first movie, this "Martyre de l'Obèse". Chenal accepted it to realize his first fiction. It wasn't easy because of a lot of tension between him and the actors and technicians. The movie didn't work but Christian Stengel thought it was well done, so he produced and wrote other movies with Pierre Chenal, and real better ones.
"I consider Pierre as a nice man. Intelligent too : I trusted him when he began. After, there was friendship..." (Christian Stengel at Marly-le-Roi, 26-01-1985).
A first movie is seldom a masterpiece, but there are some good ideas in this one. Like at the banquet of the Club of 100 kilos, when the 17 guests get seated at the round table, a half moon of the table disappeared in front of each belly to let them install. An idea by Pierre Chenal who got inspired by Louis VI the Big.
Martyrdom
dbdumonteil5 June 2009
Pierre Chenal's debut ,it is primarily a comedy with snatches of drama thrown in for good measure.But these continual hesitations throw the movie off balance.In the second part the big fat man falls in love with his friend's wife but he knows he will never be loved;this makes "Le Martyre De L'Obese" a blueprint for some of Chenal's movies ,particularly "Le Dernier Tournant" (which was the first version of "the postman always rings twice") and his masterpiece "La Foire Aux Chimères" :the not very handsome man who becomes a victim.Even if the hero from this movie concludes that life is worth living anyway even without the love of a woman,the ending leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
That said,I would recommend this movie to Chenal's completists,but only for them.
That said,I would recommend this movie to Chenal's completists,but only for them.
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