Here is the US version of a film that was originally conceived as the directorial debut of Borys Lewin, but went through a series of gyrations that ushered in American director Frank Tuttle (THIS GUN FOR HIRE) to take the reins. Legal issues ultimately forced the film to be released in France with Lewin listed as its director, with the English language version released only in the UK and Canada, after which it languished in obscurity for half a century.
Despite excellent camerawork from the legendary Eugen Schufftan, the film takes its time to get underway, eventually coiling around the "strange love" between the man on the run (Dane Clark) and his conflicted ex-girlfriend (Simone Signoret).
It's a film we considered but ultimately rejected for inclusion in THE FRENCH HAD A NAME FOR IT back in 2014, even with a French language version available. While we felt the film was certainly worth a watch, there was so much more material that overshadowed it and that was more purely "French" that we felt it would distract from the overall mission of the series.
Lewin, who was editor on several French noirs in the 30s directed by Pierre Chenal, including LE DERNIER TOURNANT (first-ever film version of James M. Cain's "The Postman Always Rings Twice"), never directed another film (and it's not really certain how much of this one he actually directed).
Note that the version here is in English, but also curious has English subtitles set to appear on the screen. You can turn these off using the "settings" feature if they prove to be annoying...
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