The precursor to films like "The Return of Martin Guerre", this is a well shot (with lots of film- noir like touches) metaphysical mystery/thriller about a man's search for the truth about who he really is.
Having lost his memory in the war, Roger de Vetheuil is living as a wealthy industrialist with a seeming perfect life. But a blackmailer claims Roger is really Jean Pelletier, a small time gangster, said to have died in the war. De Vetheuil finds himself compelled to dig ever deeper into his own blurred past -- only to find confusing and confounding evidence pointing both directions.
Charles Vanel is excellent in the lead, nicely underplaying in a more subtle style than many screen performances of the time – and unfortunately also more subtle then some of the performances around him. But while the film has it's melodramatic scenes, it ultimately is an absorbing, twisty and intelligent story, almost impossible to get ahead of.
Having lost his memory in the war, Roger de Vetheuil is living as a wealthy industrialist with a seeming perfect life. But a blackmailer claims Roger is really Jean Pelletier, a small time gangster, said to have died in the war. De Vetheuil finds himself compelled to dig ever deeper into his own blurred past -- only to find confusing and confounding evidence pointing both directions.
Charles Vanel is excellent in the lead, nicely underplaying in a more subtle style than many screen performances of the time – and unfortunately also more subtle then some of the performances around him. But while the film has it's melodramatic scenes, it ultimately is an absorbing, twisty and intelligent story, almost impossible to get ahead of.