Only one week before shooting started Heinz Rühmann took over from Rupert Davies, who did not agree with the script and the director, the part of Maigret. The making of the film was saved, but not Georges Simenon's creation as Rühmann makes a very uneasy commissaire; Rühmann's Maigret can not compete with the Maigret of Jean Gabin or Rupert Davies. Rühmann did not have the posture to start with; the pipe in Rühmann's mouth is more prominent than his Maigret.
As to script and director Rupert Davies was not completely wrong, but it is not a bad film either. With good routine writing by Herbert Reinecker, a specialist for this kind of stuff, and ditto direction by Alfred Weidenmann this is an entertaining detective film, but surely a failure as a Maigret adaptation.
As to script and director Rupert Davies was not completely wrong, but it is not a bad film either. With good routine writing by Herbert Reinecker, a specialist for this kind of stuff, and ditto direction by Alfred Weidenmann this is an entertaining detective film, but surely a failure as a Maigret adaptation.