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Saturday, June 13, 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
Un Revenant (1946) French Black Comedy Revenge Noir
Directed by Christian-Jaque (L'assassinat du Père Noël, Voyage sans espoir, L'enfer des anges).
Written by Henri Jeanson, Christian-Jaque, and Louis Chavance. Cinematography by Louis Page and Christian Matras. Music by Arthur Honegger.
The film stars Louis Jouvert (Un Carnet de bal, Jenny Lamour, La charrette fantôme, Entre onze heures et minuit) as Jean-Jacques Sauvage.
Louis Jouvet was one of the great French leading men, an "A list" actor. He looked a lot like American character actor Ned Sparks, both were stone faced, both were tall, thin, almost appearing gaunt at times. They have similar deliveries of there lines. Both were born in the 1880s and both died in 1950s. Both were big in the 1930s and 1940s.
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| Louis Jouvert lt., Ned Sparks rt. |
Also starring are Gaby Morlay as Geneviève Gonin, François Périer (Nights of Cabiria, The Man Who Never Was, Le Samouraï), as François Nisard, Jean Brochard (Diabolique, Rafles sur la ville) as Jérôme Nisard, Ludmilla Tchérina (The Red Shoes) as Karina the ballerina.
With Hélène Ronsard as La jeune femme, Arthur Honegger as himself / En personne, Léo Lapara as Marchal, Armand Lurville as Le commissaire (as Lurville), Maurice Nasil as Le cousin, Max Bozzoni as Serge, Arthur Hoérée, Louis Seigner as Edmond Gonin, Marguerite Moreno as Tante Jeanne.
Story
Lyon, birthplace of Claudius, yes, that Claudius, Emperor of Rome, I, Claudius. Its at the Junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers with some very beautiful hilly topography.
The opening credits are over stills of a fog shrouded city in the fall season.
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We segue from stills to a pan from a high elevation, then to the figure of a man walking down towards the river city, wearing a fedora, a scarf, and a double breasted camel hair Polo Coat a "pardessus en poil de chameau." Back then an indicator that the wearer is quite well off.
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Jérôme wants the family business to absorb the 5 million franks he lost on the silk market. Edmond does not want to do this. Edmond offers to buy Jérôme's shares in the company if he needs money. Tante Jeanne tells him to have patience she may die soon, and while Jérôme is cajoling one of his cousins the phone rings.
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Edmond goes into the parlor, and meets Jean-Jacques.
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| Montée des Chazeaux, Lyon |
He climbs down long stairways, the scene, punctuated with rooftop chimneys, as he drops into the heart of Lyon. We watch as he crosses Passerelle du Palais de Justice foot bridge and then climbs an alley stairway on the other bank.
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| Passerelle du Palais de Justice |
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He finally turns into an arched traboule leading to a central courtyard, and we finally see the man Jean-Jacques Sauvage, approaching us. In the courtyard he stops.
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| Louis Jouvert as Jean-Jacques Sauvage |
The man Jean-Jacques lifts his gaze to the buildings in the courtyard. We see what he sees and then our gaze drops down to to a sign that reads. Jérôme Nisard and Edmond Gonin Silk Merchants.
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We cut to two men Jérôme Nisard and Edmond Gonin arguing about money. Watching them is Tante Jeanne and two other men, are cousins also with a stake in the company.
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| Louis Seigner as Edmond Gonin |
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| Jean Brochard as Jérôme Nisard |
Jérôme wants the family business to absorb the 5 million franks he lost on the silk market. Edmond does not want to do this. Edmond offers to buy Jérôme's shares in the company if he needs money. Tante Jeanne tells him to have patience she may die soon, and while Jérôme is cajoling one of his cousins the phone rings.
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| Marguerite Moreno as Tante Jeanne |
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Its the receptionist downstairs, she relates that there is a visitor downstairs who wants to see him but wont give his name. Jérôme tells her no visitors.
After he hangs up, the cousin who he was working on replies that there is one solution to his problem, marry his son François to the Brunet's daughter they are another silk family with lost of money.
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Tante Jeanne asks Jérôme if François would accept such a scheme? Jérôme replies that he won't even ask him. If it comes to that he will sacrifice him. Nice family. We watch as Jérôme walks towards the window, and gazes out.
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| Louis Jouvet as Jean-Jacques |
Down in the courtyard we see Jean-Jacques come out below the window and then after a brief glace around again walk back out under the arch. At the end, we watch him buy a bouquet of flowers. These he takes to an address. There he rings the bell and he gives the flowers to the woman who answers. He's revisiting his old girlfriend Geneviève's place.
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The woman is a bit perplexed. He explains that the apartment belonged to someone he used to know. He even mentions that there used to be a wall in one spot, she tells him she had it taken down.
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Jean-Jacques walks to a window and tells her he liked the view. He bids the woman adieu and walks out..
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We cut to Jean-Jacques later, walking along the Quai du Docteur Guilleton, beside the Rhône. At just about the same time Edmond is passing in the other direction.
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They both recognize each other. But Edmond turns away and increases his pace. Jean-Jacques follows.
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We get another tour of Lyon as Edmond leads Jean-Jacques through the city. He crosses a street, doges a trolley, and heads across Place Antonin Poncet.
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| Place Antonin Poncet. |
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Edmond ducks down a narrow alley, soon followed by Jean-Jacques.
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Edmond heads up another passage through another building with interior balconys.
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He is soon tailed by Jean-Jacques.
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Edmond pops out on a street again and turns a corner.
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He finally get to his apartment at Place Bellecour, heads upstairs and quickly shuts the door.
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Jean-Jacques spots the apartment number on the second floor and heads upstairs.
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Once in the apartment Edmond calls out to his wife Geneviève, and tells her he just saw Jean-Jacques. The door buzzer sounds off and Edmond instructs Geneviève to hide.
The maid lets Jean-Jacques in and leads him into the parlor.
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| Gaby Morlay as Geneviève Gonin |
Edmond goes into the parlor, and meets Jean-Jacques.
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Jean-Jacques: Don't make me wait anymore, say hello Jean-Jacques.
Edmond: Jean-Jacques.
Jean-Jacques: Didn't you recognize me? I though you had , you were running so...
Edmond: I'm always in a hurry. You haven't changed How are you.
Jean-Jacques: Fine since that famous last time.
Edmond: What a tragedy. How's your wound?
Jean-Jacques: Its healed.
Edmond: You're just passing through? When are you leaving?
Jean-Jacques: I just came
Edmond: I was just asking.
Jean-Jacques: How's business.
Edmond: Awful, awful. So bad that if you asked me to lend me 10,000 5000 francs I couldn't do it if I wanted too. That's how it is.
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| You haven't changed either |
Jean-Jacques [slightly sarcastically]: You haven't changed either. And Geneviève?
When Jean-Jacques asks about Geneviève, Edmond tells him that she died seven years ago, and didn't suffer. He explains that she had a bad heart. Then, he requests to Jean-Jacques that he not to mention it around town because it would just bring up memories of the scandal. Jean-Jacques asks about her brother Jérôme, "the best shot" in the family. Edmond confesses that he's not doing to well.
When Edmond asks Jean-Jacques what he's doing here, Jean-Jacques ignores the question [looks around the apartment] and remarks Geneviève had a good life. Jean-Jacques then departs after scolding Edmond about politeness.
When Jean-Jacques is gone Geneviève comes out and asks Edmond if he asked about her? Edmond brushes her off and says he has to make a call. It's to Jérôme of course and he lets him know about Jean-Jacques being back it town.
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Here we cut to various shots of posters, signs, and newspaper headlines for the Ballets de L'etoile, that is coming to Lyon, to put on a show, it's a big deal. A big success in America is going to play in Lyon, before Paris.
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There are signs are in the newspaper stands, signs are on trollies passing on the streets, we see them also in store windows.
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We also see that the world famous producer of the show is mentioned as Jean-Jacques Savage. To make it doubly obvious, there is, in one display, a photo of it's producer and of course its Jean-Jacques. And here, we cut to Geneviève who of course looks in the store window and reacts with a start to see Jean-Jacques' photo.
Cut to the theater we watch Jean-Jacques working on ballet production. Dancers are rehearsing, stagehands working on scenery.
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Jean-Jacques tells the choreographer to end the rehearsal and empty the theater. Then when Jean-Jacques requests an electrician to adjust a spot he swings it into the auditorium and catches Geneviève in an aisle. Jean-Jacques spots her and goes to meet her.
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He's glad to see her but also scolds her. He tells that when he left the hospital, she had already gone on her honeymoon, and didn't even leave him a note. He relays to her that a note would have helped with his recovery.
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Geneviève: What could I do, two hours after the tragedy I left Lyon. Edmond was rich, I had to marry him. I thought when I came beck I'd find you, I had my fantasies.
So, they knew about our relationship but wanted to end it. So Jérôme lied that night. He didn't mistake me for someone else. Thanks. How could you live with such examples of mankind.
Geneviève: I was helpless.
Jean-Jacques: One more thing, I want to know which role they had in each scene? Edmond?
Geneviève: He bought the gun, Jérôme fired.
Jean-Jacques: And your father?
Geneviève: He waited for the outcome.
Jean-Jacques: A united family. I could have been rich.
Geneviève: I could have been your wife.
Jean-Jacques: You were such a sentimental girl,
Geneviève: I've suffered a lot. Who could I confide to, they were all accomplices. I haven't changed. I only loved you
Jean-Jacques: What a sordid story. At least Jérôme did something with his life, he tried to murder me.
Their conversation breaks up when Jean-Jacques hears Karina his star ballerina calling for him to complain about her dressing room. Jean-Jacques tells her to see the stage manager.
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Jean-Jacques stand up and tells Geneviève she can follow. He gives a few more directions. Mentions to Geneviève, that she looks good on the stage.
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Then as the curtain falls tells her the act is over. Geneviève and Jean-Jacques say their goodbyes and she heads down the aisle.
Karina: So? Is your meeting over?
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Karina also tells Jean-Jacques that she is happy now with her room.
Karina: You're so nice.
Jean-Jacques: What would you do if you found out who murdered you 20 years ago?
Karina: One of your friends?
Jean-Jacques: Yes me.
Cut to the outside of a mansion at night. The lights are on. Inside we see Jérôme and Edmond playing pool and arguing. A servant interrupts and speaks with Jérôme.
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We cut to Jean-Jacques standing in a foyer. The servant returns and explains that he made a mistake Jérôme is not at home. Jean-Jacques meanwhile observes two hats and coats in the foyer.
Jean-Jacques tells the servant that he'll wait, and not to bother because he knows the way.
Jean-Jacques head up the stairway telling the servant that he will be in the last room (François' room). the servant flummoxed runs back to Jérôme and announces that he didn't leave and is up in François' room.
Jérôme goes out into the foyer, grabs his hat, coat, and umbrella. off the rack and pretends to Jean- Jacques when he goes into François' room that he just got in.
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Jérôme [feigning surprise]: Jean-Jacques, my old friend [shakes Jean-Jacques' hand]. Thanks for waiting. It would have been a pity to miss you.
Jean-Jacques [sarcastically]: I didn't miss you my dear Jérôme.
Jérôme: Edmond told me you were in Lyon.
He goes on to bullshit Jean-Jacques about how hard it has been on Edmond after Geneviève died. When he's done, Jean-Jacques remarks that this used to be Geneviève's room. Jérôme replies it's now François'.
Jérôme explains that François paints but he's his successor, so he must know the business. Jérôme walks over to an easel and shows Jean-Jacques his paintings.
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Jean-Jacques looks at the art and then about the room and reflects that François is romantic, sentimental, tormented, impulsive, respectless, messy, well dressed, childish, and generous, the exact opposite of you.
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Jean-Jacques informs Jérôme that he's heading back down stairs. Down in the foyer Jean-Jacques pauses at the gun rack and removes a double barrel shot gun.
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He examines it and replaces it. Jérôme removes his hat and coat lying them back on the coat rack.
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They both then go into the room with the billiard table.
Here we get a V.O. by Jean-Jacques accompanied by a sort of flashback where Jaen-Jacques narrates what happened as we tour the choreography of his shooting.
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It end with the final image of what Jean-Jacques saw after he was shot and falls to the floor, a sidewise view of the room.
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Here at the end of his narrative Jérôme confesses to Jean-Jacques that it was actually Geneviève that shot him. If he had shot him he wouldn't have missed. he boasts. Jérôme says he told the police that he shot Jean-Jacques to spare her.
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Jean-Jacques leaves the house and as soon as he's gone Edmond comes out of hiding. They talk about the Jean-Jacques, their business problems and then marrying off François to another "silk" family. At about this time François returns and joins them in billiard room.
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Here, while playing billiards, François remarks that he hopes they eat early because he wants to go to a party tonight. Jérôme tells him no. Edmond remarks to François that he won't be able to speak to him like that if you're married.
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François is like WTF? Jérôme announces that he has a surprise for him. He says to that soon you will be very rich.
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Jérôme: You know Gilberte Brunot?
François: The ugly one?
Jérôme: She's not ugly she's 20 years old.
François: Let her keep them. I don't want them.
Jérôme: If you want to take it that way. In a month you will be married to her.
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François tells him that he's rather die first. This conversation is broken up by Geneviève, with her big surprise news, she shows them the newspaper headlines about Jean-Jacques Savage and the ballet.
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Cut to the theater the next day. François is patiently waiting to see Jean-Jacques Savage, he has a portfolio with his paintings.
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When Jean-Jacques arrives François overhears a worker greet Mr. Savage so he follows him up the stairs. At the top of the landing François trips spilling his portfolio at Jean-Jacques feet. Jean-Jacques recognizes the paintings and realizes its François. Jean-Jacques instructs François to follow him.
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At this point, an ex police official requests to meet with Jean-Jacques, so he has .François wait in the hall while he speaks with the official in Karina's dressing room.
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The official is curious as to why he changed his name and Jean-Jacques replies, the old Jean-Jacques was dead and he needed something new. Jean Jacques guesses that Edmond or Jérôme have hired him to see if Jean-Jacques is there to blackmail them. he reassures the official that he hasn't thought of them in 20 years.
Meanwhile out in the hall François and Karina have a meet cute. She catches him starring at her legs. Then drops her glove which François retrieves.
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About this time Jean-Jacques comes out of Karina's dressing room and notices the embers of infatuation glowing between Karina and François.
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Jean-Jacques announces that he wants Karina on stage in ten minutes, then seeing François grab his portfolio, he instructs him to wait in Karina's dressing room for him.
In the dressing room Karina starts having fun. She tosses her coat to François telling him to hang it up. Then she continues her teasing and flashes her tits at François, so he's hooked, she has him pull off her boots and then she tells him he's cute.
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Now at almost the half way point all the players are in place for Jean-Jacques' revenge.
Noirsville
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Christian-Jaque gives us very amusing, bloodless, revenge yarn that hits on all cylinders. Louis Jouvert is just perfect as Jean Jacques, he pulls the strings of opportunity that present themselves effortlessly and watches the results. Ludmilla Tchérina as the wild child ballerina and her latest victim François Périer, are fun to watch. Gaby Morlay, Jean Brochard, Louis Seigner and Marguerite Moreno are all great. 8/10
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