That wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Jean Gabin

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His films are VERY hard to find here locally, so when I suddenly saw the new arrival - "Grisbi" on the shelf, I went for it.
He is not just one of the all-time world greatest actors, he's got that PRESENCE! That self-assured poise and confidence - one falls in love with him right away. No matter what trouble - comes Jean and you know it will go away.
I often compare him to Spenser Tracy, but Jean is far more munumental and perhaps deep. He is more *significant* as a human being, more complex than Spencer, whose almost farmer-boy smile, attitude and lack of sophistication grab you nonetheless. Jean is urbane... no questions about that.
So it was with a great anticipation that I brought it home - we have not seen that film.
Image is first class, B&W, of course (1953), but sharp and film-liKe smooth on the large screen, adding tremendously to the enjoyment. Subs? No, none of that white-on-white kaka, mind you, but a modern-Day classy yellow, always easy to read. One problem with them French, especially their women (and French women DO have problems, in cas eyou didn't know) - they talk way too much. So you spend a LOT of time looking at the bottom of the screen, while you really wish you could just stay riveted to his face.
As I mentioned before, I LOVE black and white movies on 100" screen - you feel like in the Cinema Paradiso, with smoke and hats around you, and young Italian boys laughing and stomping... but add Jean to that - and you have one *magical* evening.
The movie is not a great one, and it would be your typical minor work without that PRESENCE. The way it is, it is a must see for any serious movie buff. Jean is simply great, as usual, and given how hard it is to see him any more, I am glad I found it.
It is a minor crime story, and he is, of course, a crook with a lot of integrity and BIG human soul. Ah, yes, and all the beautiful young women are crazy about him and he constantly has to refuse their invitations to join them in the sack - a rather difficult life, I am sure. Of course he keeps his true ace up his sleeve until much later in the film, when he finally shows us his traffic-stoppingly beautiful lover... she is blond, and she is tall, and she just can't wait for another encounter with this quiet and confident man... she spends long lonely days in her juxury apartment dreaming of him, waiting for him... as I said - life doesn't get any harder. Finally he shows up to play with her many diamond bracelets... and give her a ride in his latest super-coupe - bought for 50,000 franks, we are told, no idea what that would be in today dollars, but you get the idea that it ain't a Yogo.
He carries his integrity to the very end, when the life and well being of his, also crooked, friend take more importance than all the treasures in the world - but of course, he doesn't exactly go broke, he keeps his few luxury apartments, his super-coupe and the blond...
Life is smiling again to those with large 4:3 screens...

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Topic - That wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Jean Gabin - Victor Khomenko 09:49:48 05/26/01 (0)

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