L'ami d'enfance de Maigret

Saw this on the Talking Pictures channel (UK, old films and TV). They had previously shown the 1960s series (50+ episodes, BBC, B&W) featuring Rupert Davies, a generally acclaimed Maigret.

We've also seen the excellent 12 episodes (2 series) that ITV did (90s) with Michael Gambon as Maigret (terrific portrayal) and the less successful later efforts with Rowan Atkinson in the lead.

This Cremer version is of course French, with subtitles, but they are not too wordy, so fairly easy to follow. Also very French, lots of atmosphere, meaningful looks, thoughtful silences.

I see some reviews refer to how faithful this version is to the books, a ludicrous statement in one respect, as Lucas, his main assistant in all the books I've seen, has almost completely disappeared!

I haven't liked all the episodes so far of this Cremer version, but THIS one is EXCELLENT. As Whalen (usually accurate reviews) points out, this involves Maigret gradually unravelling the lies and half-truths told by his childhood'friend' Florentin, who may even be a murderer.

The review by Tobias, however, suggests that he got distracted, as his "actress who plays the mistress is especially good" apparently missed that the mistress is merely found as a dead body, right at the start, and never says a word?!

This story was also done in the terrific portrayal by Micheal Gambon, though that one had an extra lover to consider as the murderer, this Cremer version cut one out, despite lasting half an hour longer!

As usual, the acting is really good, but my main quibble is with the rest of Maigret's team -- in this one Lucas actually appears, but says nothing (he's Maigret's main assistant in all the books I read). The rest of the team are portrayed as pretty much nitwits, needing lots of prodding to make pretty basic investigations -- and that is NOT as per the books, or the British versions!

I like this series because of Cremer but also the acting of everyone. It's consistently good, with only a handful of duds. If one likes the genre.

This is one of the best episodes. Saying this may be personal, but I think most fans would agree. A balance between Crime and Hope is in the story - that's why I am reviewing it. The actress who plays the mistress is especially good.

Maigret is visited by a friend from childhood, someone he hasn't seen in decades. This friend, Leon Florentin, tells Maigret of Josee', a woman he's been in love with, a woman who has other lovers, and this woman is now dead. Murdered. The suspects include Josee's lovers (which includes Florentin) and the concierge of the apartment building in which Josee' lived and was killed.

The mystery is a good one and worth watching as the suspects' stories unravel, and it really is more an unraveling of threads than a series of uncovered facts and big reveals. Maigret presses on his friend again and again-like scratching at a scab-to get at what really happened in that apartment. This episode deviates slightly from George Simenon's novel in how Maigret gets at the truth, but it aligns with the book's ending (which would have been tedious to script and film). Roger Pierre as Florentin and Marianne Groves as the concierge are a treat to watch, capturing those crucial roles nicely.