This is a French TV film with the quality of a major cinema production. The opening is pretty unusual - director Jean Renoir plays himself as he arrives at the studio and then makes the concluding audio recordings as the narrator of his film.
It's a fascinating variation of the Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde theme, this time they are called Dr. Cordelier and Monsieur Opale. It's nearly unbelievable that both are played by one actor: Jean-Louis Barrault. How he uses his pantomimic and dancing abilities to portray Opale, the dark incarnation of Cordelier freed from all moral restraints, is phenomenal. His body movements and facial expressions are so weird ... and the walking-stick in his hand almost seems to lead an own life. What an outstanding performance!
It's a fascinating variation of the Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde theme, this time they are called Dr. Cordelier and Monsieur Opale. It's nearly unbelievable that both are played by one actor: Jean-Louis Barrault. How he uses his pantomimic and dancing abilities to portray Opale, the dark incarnation of Cordelier freed from all moral restraints, is phenomenal. His body movements and facial expressions are so weird ... and the walking-stick in his hand almost seems to lead an own life. What an outstanding performance!