André Hugon made the first French talkie ("Les Trois Masques"1929).His best effort is perhaps his version of Daudet's "Le Petit Chose" .
The main problem with "L'Affaire Du Grand Hôtel" is that it is essentially a thriller ,and the principal ,Henri Alibert ,was a singer :hence the necessity to include a song every fifteen minutes;in this kind of movie,these ditties come at the most awkward moment.
The screenplay is not devoid of interest and involves a two-bit Hercule Poirot,smugglers (?),gangsters ,murders ,treasures ,and love between the romantic male lead (Tonin) and a girl who might be part of a gang ("cause my daddy did it and I'm proud of him").All this account for a muddled story sometimes hard to follow.Noel Roquevert plays two parts ,including that of a tramp called 'the philosopher".
They are crazy,those Parisians,let 'em get back to where they once belonged!
