Review of Quand la femme s'en mêle

This film is of interest only in so far as it typifies what a capable director and an excellent cast can do with inferior material. Here Yves Allegret whose best films were behind him with nothing better alas to come, has the services of some of France's finest, namely Jean Servais, Bernard Blier and the magnificent Edwige Feuilliere. Playing a baby-faced killer is Alain Delon whose air of mystery and unpredictability is evident in this his film debut. The problem is that the film cannot make up its mind whether it wants to be a comedy-thriller or film noir and ends up being neither. However the mis-en-scene, production values and fascinating cast hold the attention so one should not be too dismissive.