L’affaire Maurizius

The film adaptation of Jakob Wassermann's factual novel about a miscarriage of justice was a long-cherished dream project of Duvivier’s. Using flashbacks, this didactic film about lies, guilt and despair tells the story of how Léonard Maurizius (Daniel Gélin), accused of killing his wife (Madeleine Robinson), was found guilty primarily because of the vehement approach of the ambitious prosecutor (Charles Vanel) and the testimony of the shady key witness Grégoire Waremme (Anton Walbrook, the film's secret star). Eighteen years later, the prosecutor's son (Jacques Chabassol) takes notice of the case. Distraught about his father's hard-heartedness, he sets out on his own to find the crucial witness, who has apparently changed names and appearance. (re/fl)