Un échec de Maigret

Saw this on the Talking Pictures channel (UK, old films and TV). They had previously shown the 1960s series (50+ episodes, BBC, B&W) featuring Rupert Davies, a generally acclaimed Maigret.

We've also seen the excellent 12 episodes (2 series) that ITV did (90s) with Michael Gambon as Maigret (terrific portrayal) and the less successful later efforts with Rowan Atkinson in the lead.

This Cremer version is of course French, with subtitles, but they are not too wordy, so fairly easy to follow. Also very French, lots of atmosphere, meaningful looks, thoughtful silences.

I see some reviews refer to how faithful this version is to the books, a ludicrous statement in one respect, as Lucas, his main assistant in all the books I've seen, has almost completely disappeared!

I haven't liked all the episodes so far of this Cremer version, but THIS one is EXCELLENT, a man is murdered who'd come to the Police for help (after getting threatening letters), who'd known Maigret at school, and claimed him to be a friend (but wasn't!).

The review by Whalen details much of what happens, and we both enjoyed the way that Maigret gradually gets to understand the substantial number in the dead man's family, and staff, plus some business rivals, just about all of whom hated the guy, and with good reason!

However, the old BBC series (60s), told the same story in half the time, quite effectively too! The much slower pace in this version allows for the characters to be drawn out more, but I'd add that the acting is terrific, as usually the case with this series. Especially good was Isabelle Candelier, the PA/secretary to the victim, who despises her tycoon boss, and with good reason.

There are some nice lighter touches throughout, Maigret's expression on hearing the victim regarded him a a friend at school, and that their fathers had been chummy, also the exchange when his wife wasn't coming down to see the victim (she lived on the first floor) as she wanted to be sure he really was dead first.

And as Whalen says, the ending is a nice touch, why bother too much WHO killed the overbearing brute, just be grateful someone did?

How to explain the mystique of George Simenon's Maigret mysteries: For me, one doesn't read Simenon's Maigret mysteries simply for setup, epiphanous moment, and denouement. I would say the same is true of watching this series. Getting to and finding out "Who did it?" matters, yes, but only a bit. The best parts are the lingering moments in between. In this episode, more than almost any others, I think the scriptwriters have outdone Simenon in delivering on those "moments."

Mr. Fumal, a wealthy and influential businessman comes to Maigret for protection. Fumal shows Maigret anonymous notes he's received that include threats of death. Maigret and Fumal knew each other from childhood days, and Maigret's memory of Fumal is not a pleasant one. Maigret, though, tries to ignore his antipathy toward Fumal and provides some police presence at the man's house. But then Fumal is murdered. How could someone murder Fumal with police nearby and on close call?

While there are several suspects all of whom hated Fumal, who among them would have had the opportunity and willingness to kill? His secretary? His butler? His accountant? His wife? His brother-in-law? His mistress? His chauffeur? Or a fellow businessman?

The reveal of the murderer and the story's conclusion is perfect Maigret. Absolutely perfect. And yet . . . The scriptwriters achieved this by slightly departing from the book and improving on Simenon's conclusion. Yes, the murderer is the same in both book and film, but . . . In the novel Simenon throws out some tidbits here and there--comments about the past--but leaves them never to return. In this episode the scriptwriters decided to follow some small, almost throw-away bits of dialogue included in the book and take them to an appropriate conclusion. The ending here is the ending Simenon should have written. There's a poignancy at the end seldom seen in television episodic murder mysteries.