Huis-clos

Directed by the very talented but alas forgotten Jacqueline Audry this is a first class adaptation by her husband Pierre Laroche of Jean-Paul Sartre's play concerning three people who are doomed to spend eternity tearing each other to pieces to atone for their earthly sins. The excellent production design is by Maurice Colasson. The success or failure of this piece will always depend of course on the quality of the cast and the three leading actors do not disappoint.Frank Villard who had twice before worked with Audry is mucho macho as Joseph without being one-dimensional and the wonderfully photogenic Gaby Sylvia as Estelle proves that she is more than just a pretty face. However the film really belongs to Arletty whose fortunes waned after the war for reasons which are well documented and who gives a truly frightening portrayal as Ines. This is her best postwar film role and she plays it with relish. This powerful, menacing and claustrophobic piece serves to remind one of the tremendous influence exerted by Sartre over other dramatists, not least Harold Pinter.