毒药  毒妇

OneofthegreatlateperiodfilmsbySachaGuitry—thetotalauteurwhodelighted(andscandalised)theFrenchpublicandinspiredtheFrenchNewWaveasamodelforauthorshipasdirector-writer-starofscreenandstagealike.Ineveryoneofhispictures(andalmosteveryoneservedasaruefulexaminationofthewarbetweenthesexes),Guitrysculptedbywayofarapierwit—onemightsaybywayof“theGuitrytouch”—someofthemostsophisticatedblackcomedieseverconceived…andLaPoisonisoneofhisblackest.MichelSimonplaysPaulBraconnier,amanwithdesignsonmurderinghiswifeBlandine(GermaineReuver)—awomanwithsimilardesignsonherhusband.WhenBraconniervisitsParistoconsultwithalawyerabouttheperfectwayofkillingaspouse—thatis,thewayinwhichhecangetawaywithit—anacidcomedyunfoldsthatreachesitspeakinacourtroomscenefortheages.FromthemomentofGuitry’strademarkintroductionofhisprincipalsintheopeningcredits,andonthroughthebrilliantperformancebynationaltreasureMichelSimon(ofRenoir’sBoudusauvédeseauxandVigo’sL’Atalante,tomentiononlytwohigh-watermarks),hereisfittingindicationofwhyGuitryisconsideredbymanytheGallicequalofErnstLubitsch.TheMastersofCinemaSeriesisproudtointroduceSachaGuitryintothecataloguewithLaPoisonforthefirsttimeonvideointheUKinadazzlingnewGaumontrestoration.