L'homme à l'imperméable

Coming after his awesome film noir "voici le temps des assassins" the same year,everything Duvivier would produce afterward was bound to be a let -down :such was the case for "l'homme à l'imperméable" which fluctuates between comedy and drama .

Comedy because of Fernandel's personality:it's hard to take his character seriously (a character he had often played in the past:the less-than-handsome guy who falls for a gorgeous woman).

Drama because it's a Hadley Chase novel ;and Fernandel ,who is an ideal Pagnol actor,is definitely not a film noir hero.

It's pussyfooting all the way.While it's entertaining,it cannot be looked upon as an achievement for the highly talented Duvivier.