Recours en grâce

Laslo Benedek made two important movies :the first version of "death of a salesman" and "the wild ones " although the latter has not worn well .His French effort is not particularly memorable;the female lead was intended for Simone Signoret -who had already teamed up with the male lead Raf Vallone for "Thérèse Raquin" - but something happened and she was replaced by highly talented Emmanuelle Riva ;unfortunately she was miscast and was not at ease in the movie:a cerebral actress,she is ineffecient in the part of an ordinary woman of the people .Annie Girardot fares better in her part of a semi-whore in love with the hero who does not care for her and has only eyes for Riva .

Vallone's part of a deserter is not convincing at all,because of a desultory script ;his motives are not very clear and when it comes to depicting the horror of wars ,the screenplay is nothing but commonplace.

The part of the little girl is played by Patricia Gozzi ,who became very famous two years later for "Cybele Ou Les Dimanches De Ville D'Avray".

The only good idea is the recording -at the time in France ,it was almost sci-fi for the common run of people- which allows Riva to hear her lover's plea for pardon (=Recours En Grace )beyond the grave.