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(1941) Harry Baur, Renée Faure, Marie-Hélène Dasté, Raymond Rouleau, Robert Le Vigan. A fascinating film with many subplots, all embellished by a wonderful music score. It’s Christmas Eve in a snow-covered mountain community. The children are just getting out of school when a darkly-clad baron returns to his nearby chateau after a ten-year absence. He is in hiding because of leprosy. Meanwhile, a mysterious intruder attacks a local priest while attempting to steal a sacred ring from the church. A young boy is bound to his bed—crippled for life. A strange, beautiful woman searches endlessly for her missing cat. An old globe-maker dons his Santa Claus costume and goes about the village with gifts for the local children. Later, after Santa enters the church, which is packed with Christmas Eve parishioners, the sacred ring disappears! All hell breaks loose when Santa is found in the snow—murdered. The village is snowed in and the police are blocked from the village. Who is the killer? The snow-ridden search for Santa, culminating with the discovery of his murdered corpse, features some stunning B&W imagery. Watch for the riveting “locked closet” scene. There are many twists and surprise moments in this brilliant film, which has one of the happiest endings ever put on screen. Wow… In French with English subs. From 35mm.
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