User Reviews

A vagabond is found dead in a garden shed near Dole, carrying the same weapon that killed another vagabond in Paris a few weeks earlier. No one will admit to knowing the dead man, but Commissaire Maigret suspects differently. He must probe the dysfunctional Fouly family, a group of partying young people, and two sisters who haven't spoken (except in insults) in 30 years. There are old secrets to be unearthed.

This is a quiet, low-key story that comes up short of compelling, though its ending is quite strong. Bruno Cremer is good in the title role (and he should be, considering how many times he's played it). Renee Le Calm provides comic relief as the sometimes-deaf Fouly grandmother. Genevieve Fontanel (younger sister Fonsine) worked with Francois Truffaut in L'Homme Qui Aimait Les Femmes (The Man Who Loved Women). Filmed in the Czech Republic.

The body of a vagrant is found in a garden shed. It's clear he's been murdered, but it's not the murder that brings Maigret to this small farming community; rather, it's a gun found on the dead body that matches the weapon used to kill another vagrant under a Paris bridge. The solution to the Paris murder will be found in a rain-soaked village that includes two feuding sisters, teenagers trying to have a bit of fun, a farm family, and lots of mud.

This episode is based on Simenon's "The Mourning of Fonsine," a Maigret short story. As with all Simenon stories and understood by the film makers, atmosphere is firmly a part of the story. Sights, sounds, smells, food, and overheard bits of dialogue are part of Simenon's storytelling, and this is clearly understood in "Death in a Vegetable Garden." More fun for me, though, in this film is how the long ago days in this village are referenced in snippets of conversation, illustrated in old post cards and photos, and remembered in knowing smiles and angry outbursts. Those long ago days hold the key to the mystery, to the solution of two murders. Maigret, soon realizing this, prods and pokes his way to uncover that past and the answers.

See this one.

Saw this on the Talking Pictures channel (UK, old films and TV). They had previously shown the 1960s series (50+ episodes, BBC, B&W) featuring Rupert Davies, a generally acclaimed Maigret.

We've also seen the excellent 12 episodes (2 series) that ITV did (90s) with Michael Gambon as Maigret (terrific portrayal) and the less successful later efforts with Rowan Atkinson in the lead.

This Cremer version is of course French, with subtitles, but they are not too wordy, so fairly easy to follow. Also very French, lots of atmosphere, meaningful looks, thoughtful silences.

I see some reviews refer to how faithful this version is to the books, a ludicrous statement in one respect, as Lucas, his main assistant in all the books I've seen, has almost completely disappeared!

I haven't liked all the episodes so far of this Cremer version, but THIS one is EXCELLENT! The review by Whalen details much of what happens, but I'd add that the acting is terrific, a range of disparate characters in a small nondescript country village that is somewhere near Dole, the Jura region by the Swiss border. Where it apparently rains a lot?!

Two vagrant murders are linked, one was in Paris, the gun used for that one turns up by a murder victim in this village, Maigret has to discover what the link is back to this country backwater, full of suspicious characters who don't much care for the outside world.

The story is somewhat like the episode in series 7 (Enfant de Choeur) in which Maigret has to find out what a small group of characters are hiding, though that village (or perhaps small town) actually has a road with tarmac, pavements, a tram, and a few shops, so he doesn't keep getting his shoes all muddy!

The core of this one is two feuding sisters, living in a divided house (I was reminded of the old Steptoe comedy story?!) just hurling venom and insults at each other for many years. Both say they don't know the local victim, who was found in a shed in their garden.

Gradually Maigret discovers crucial details, about the Paris victim, who'd been a seasonal farm worker between the wars. Then it's discovered that the local victim had been engaged to one sister, married the other one, then left them both. But they both say they don't recognise him?? Merde Alors - or perhaps, Mud Alors?! And how did the 2 vagrants know each other?

Lots of good acting, I liked the granny, said to be deaf, but sees and hears lots of things, gives Maigret a couple of good clues, and the widowed village cafe and shop owner (all in one!) who clearly takes a shine to him -- as well as his shoes! As the other reviews have said, sit down and enjoy.