"A Scandal in Paris" is a very good and very novel movie. It's based on an autobiographical two-volume story, but what's most novel about it is the screenplay itself, the mix of genres it includes, and the story method. It's a little like a modern docudrama in that a narrator provides voice-over at the start and during segments of the film. The narrator is also the main character of the film, and he's telling his own story. George Sanders plays that role of the unnamed character who went by many names in his life; but who after the first 30 years of his life became known as Eugene Francois Vidocq.
A word of caution, though, to those who may be attracted to this film for its billing as a film of adventure and romance. The adventure is mostly implied or slightly covered in voice-over as the story unfolds. The romance is very subdued and comes mostly toward the end. It definitely is about crime, and it has a literary and biographical backgrounds. But this is very much a tongue-in-cheek comedy film and costume drama centered around crime and a particular person who lived 30 years on the wrong side of the law. Then, when bitten by the love bug, he reforms and becomes a master criminologist. How much of Vidocq's story is true may never be known. The Encyclopedia Britannica has an entry on Francois-Eugene Vidocq (1775-1857) as a French detective, that verifies his audacious background and early years on the wrong side of the law. He was apparently well known "all over France," and counted several prominent authors of the day among his friends - Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac, Alexandre Dumas, etc.
So, all of that should be enough to entice many movie buffs to watch this movie. From this cinephile's assessment, it will be well worth one's time. While there is a dark side to the story - in two killings toward the end, this is very good film that fits my category of caper comedies. While the deaths aren't directly related, the attest to the wisdom of Vidocq's conversion.
George Sanders is superb as the man of many names who ultimately chose one from a graveyard to go by as his life of wandering crime took a turn toward settling down. Sanders and Alma Kruger as the Marquise De Pierremont have the bulk of the clever and witty dialog. Akim Tamiroff is superb in his role as Emile Vernet, the partner in crime with Vidocq. This is one of the more dastardly roles I have seen Tamiroff play on the silver screen. He usually plays a likable character in various comedy romances, crime capers, and some dramas. Gene Lockhart has a very good role as the Prefect of Police, Richet.
The subdued romance comes between Vidocq and the Pierremont daughter, Therese. Signe Hasso plays the shy young woman superbly, and her role is as much one of being a knowing angel who is the inspiration for Vidocq going straight. The rest of the cast include some well-known actors of the day, all of whom give good performances - Carole Landis, Vladimir Sokoloff, Leona Maricle, Pedro de Cordoba and others.
The story takes place in France at the turn of the 19th century. The one scene that might lead some to wonder about Vidocq's cleverness in dealing with crime is when he enters the room where Richet has just accidentally killed Loretta. Vidocq picks up the pistol by the handle. While he was disturbing the evidence of a crime scene, it wasn't a major faux pas. The knowledge about the uniqueness of fingerprints and their use for identity was still decades away - in the 1890s.
This is a film that many adults should still enjoy well into the 21st century. It's one I don't ever recall seeing in the late night TV times or on any of the TV movie channels. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Priest, "My child, in all of us there is a St. George and a dragon."
Eugene Francois Vidocq, "Love and crime make incompatible bedfellows. The most perfect criminal can be traced and caught when he leaves his heart behind him as a clue. Only the heartless succeed in crime, as in love."
Emile Vernet, "Look at that old Christmas tree parading around with diamonds big as tomb stones. If we could only get our hands on..." Eugene Vidocq, "It isn't done, Emile, to put such thoughts into words."
Marquise De Pierremont, "It is not good to speak of the dead in their presence. It will be safer to nibble at his reputation over a cup of chocolate."
Eugene Vidocq, "It isn't a question of morals, but of manners. A man who's capable of killing with a knife is quite liable to eat with one."
Eugene Vidocq, "I've had so many names, I'm afraid I don't remember the most recent one."
Loretta, to Richet, "I don't have any more hats than you have silly disguises."
Loretta, "Is the great detective trying to be funny, or have you really taken up peddling? Hmm. Not a bad idea. Perhaps you'd like me to accompany you on the streets with a harp doing, 'Throw me a penny, I am sick, and my husband's a lunatic.'"
Eugene Vidocq, "In crime, as in love, there are only those who do and those who don't dare."
Marquese, "All men are criminals in the light of reason. One steals our hearts, the other our jewels. Fortunately, my dear boy, you were as skillful at one as at the other."
Mimi, "I knew it from the beginning." Eugene Vidocq, "Knew what?" Mimi, "That no man is a saint."
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