127. Le Jour se leve/Daybreak (1939)

Running Time: 93 minutes
Directed By: Marcel Carne
Written By: Jacques Prevert, Jacques Viot
Main Cast: Jean Gabin, Jacqueline Laurent, Jules Berry, Arletty

A MAN BARRICADES HIMSELF IN HIS ROOM AND RECOLLECTS ON HIS CRIME

I opted to go ahead and watch this one last night, instead of today, and I'm glad I did, because it was amazing. I've been becoming a rapid fan of Jean Gabin and this was the movie that cemented me as a fan of him.

The film is shown to us in flashbacks, following some murmuring and gunshots coming from the apartment of Francois (Gabin). When the door to the apartment opens, we see a man stumble out, clutching his chest and fall down the stairs...dead! When the camera makes it's way inside the room, we see Francois alone. It's a tiny apartment, with a bed, an armour and a night table and not much more room for anything else. The cops arrive soon and try to talk their way into the apartment, but with shots fired from Francois, the retreat. The flashbacks begin and we see that Francois was a factory worker. One day, while working in the factory, a flower delivery girl came looking for someone. Francois and the flower girl, Francoise, hit it off immediately and we're taken immediately to a time, three weeks later. At this point, the two have been dating, and despite Francois' insistence that they take it to the next level and move in together, Francoise relents. One evening, she cuts their date off short, citing that she has to meet someone.

Francois follows her to a small out of the way spot and it is here he sees her watching a show, with a vaudeville performer. The assistant to the vaudeville performer, with it being her last night, leaves the show early and goes to the bar to get a drink. Her name is Clara and she begins to make small talk with Francois, as he watches Francoise. Eventually, Francoise and vaudeville performer, Valentin leave the place together. We flash forward and Francois is now seeing both Clara and Francoise, but his feelings for Francoise are much stronger. Valentin calls for a meeting with Francois and tells him that he is Francoise's father and that he only has her best interest at heart. Francois tells him off and then later learns, from Francoise herself, that Valentin was lying and that he's not her father. The film continues to switch back and forth between the history of the characters and the sight of Francois barricaded in his room, fending off the police.

It's always nice to see a different approach to the conventional way of storytelling. Not that this is much different by today's standards, as it seems that everybody and their brother are making movies that involve heavy flashbacks and unconventional camera movements, but for 1939, it was a breath of fresh air. Jean Gabin plays the cool cat once again and I continue to be astonished at how much of an actor this guy really is. This guy is such a patient and concealed actor, that he always adds a degree of depth to the characters that he's portraying. This film seemed to have a tone, that seemed to say that life was so fragile and no matter what happens, days are going to continue and time is going to keep going by, with or without us. I felt this point made extremely clear, by the ringing of the alarm clock at the end. This film was right up my alley, as I'm a sucker for simple stories, with deep meaning and character development and this was perfect for fans of that. I liked it enough to add, "Port of Shadows" to my Netflix queue, so if anyone reading this has seen that, fill me in.

RATING: 10/10 I'm a full fledged fan of Jean Gabin now, the guy is just too good to ignore. The '10/10' was the obvious choice for me here.

NEXT UP: Gunga Din...Pretty sure Cary Grant just tied Buster Keaton, for most appearances by a lead actor in the '1001' book, thus far. This and the next one will arrive from Netflix tomorrow and that means that we SHOULD be able to wrap up the 1930's on Friday!

March 3, 2010 2:56pm