Saw this on the UK Talking Pictures channel, who are showing all 4 series of Maigret, originally early 60s BBC. We're in the 4th series now, and the quality has generally improved, though this one was harder work to watch.
This is due to several points, the director decided to chuck in a street scene of Lucas playing football with some kids near the harbour (the episode is set on the Normandy coast, where Maigret and his trusty assistant have been clearing up a case) - and it's not clear if this was just padding out the time, or showing us one of the characters in the case being a surly so-and-so? Other points were a sub-plot with Mrs Maigret waiting anxiously back in Paris with some theatre tickets (would he get back in time?) -- and a fight scene that was so ludicrous (US wrestling has more convincing 'punches' not quite landing!) that it may have been included for comedy reasons only?!
For the 2nd time in these 4 series, I find myself agreeing with the review (or part of it) by Sir-Obolong-Fitzybollongs (which given how inaccurate his views usually are, is quite disturbing). But he has a valid point in this one, the direction is quite odd at times, even allowing for the original book probably not being the easiest to dramatise?
The episode has at its core a disturbing medical issue, what is described as 'dementia' presenting itself as nymphomania in a mentally disturbed young woman, but Maigret gets to the bottom of a false confession, and the predictably lame efforts of a couple of locals to pin the murder on someone else. Patricia Hayes livens up one of the smaller parts, as a busybody neighbour.
This is due to several points, the director decided to chuck in a street scene of Lucas playing football with some kids near the harbour (the episode is set on the Normandy coast, where Maigret and his trusty assistant have been clearing up a case) - and it's not clear if this was just padding out the time, or showing us one of the characters in the case being a surly so-and-so? Other points were a sub-plot with Mrs Maigret waiting anxiously back in Paris with some theatre tickets (would he get back in time?) -- and a fight scene that was so ludicrous (US wrestling has more convincing 'punches' not quite landing!) that it may have been included for comedy reasons only?!
For the 2nd time in these 4 series, I find myself agreeing with the review (or part of it) by Sir-Obolong-Fitzybollongs (which given how inaccurate his views usually are, is quite disturbing). But he has a valid point in this one, the direction is quite odd at times, even allowing for the original book probably not being the easiest to dramatise?
The episode has at its core a disturbing medical issue, what is described as 'dementia' presenting itself as nymphomania in a mentally disturbed young woman, but Maigret gets to the bottom of a false confession, and the predictably lame efforts of a couple of locals to pin the murder on someone else. Patricia Hayes livens up one of the smaller parts, as a busybody neighbour.