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La Poison

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La Poison
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySacha Guitry
Written bySacha Guitry
Produced byPaul Wagner, Alain Poiré
StarringMichel Simon
Germaine Reuver
CinematographyJean Bachelet
Edited byRaymond Lamy
Music byLouiguy
Release date
  • 30 November 1951 (1951-11-30)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

La Poison[1][2] is a 1951 French comedy drama film, written and directed by Sacha Guitry, starring Michel Simon with Jean Debucourt and Germaine Reuver.[3][4]

Synopsis

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Paul and Blandine Braconnier both have the same wish, to find a way of killing the other without being caught. She hits on rat poison, he, intrigued by a radio interview with a famous lawyer, decides to go to Paris to meet him. There he convinces the lawyer that he has already murdered his wife, and through the questions of the lawyer works out the best way to do it and get acquitted. On his return to the home town, their plans are put in place.

Cast

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Production

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Guitry was determined to have Michel Simon in his film and asked the actor how he could make his participation satisfactory; Simon replied that he wanted only one take for his scenes. Guitry explained this to the technical crew, and this happened due to meticulous preparation by crew and actors.[5] Three cameras were used for the takes, except indoor dialogues where two were employed. All the sets were constructed in colour but filmed in black and white, in order to play the effect of their shades.[5] Notably, in a film in which he did not act, the introductory credits take the form of physical introductions and thanks by Guitry to each of the cast, the composer and key technical staff, even many of the extras. Filming was very short; a contemporary report stated "12 days and 3 hours"[6] while Knapp gives nine days.

Remake

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The film was remade by Jean Becker as A Crime in Paradise in 2001.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Poison is a masculine noun in French; Guitry's use of a feminine article refers to the wife as "an unbearable and unpleasant person". (Larousse de la Langue Française - Lexis, 1979, poison (2) p.1446. "Personne méchante et de caractère insupportable.")
  2. ^ Note in Booklet accompanying Eureka! The Masters of Cinema series #48 La Poison. Eureka Entertainment Ltd, 2013.
  3. ^ "La POISON (1951)". BFI. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Poison (1951) - Sacha Guitry | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  5. ^ a b Knapp, Bettina. On Rancour Expelled (from Sacha Guitry, 1981). In: Booklet accompanying Eureka! The Masters of Cinema series #48 La Poison. Eureka Entertainment Ltd, 2013.
  6. ^ Koval, Francis. Report from Paris. Sight and Sound, January-March 1952, Vol.21 No.3, p105.
  7. ^ "Un crime au Paradis (2001) - Jean Becker | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
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