Reviews

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. Frequent reviewer Whalen is as usual most accurate with his comments, so check that for the plot.

Maigret here is confronted with at first a number of possible culprits, connected to the victim, and he swiftly dismisses the chance of it being an opportune robbery, gone wrong.

But, a tangled set of relatives, and a mistress, lead to a variety of motives.

We gradually learn of Maigret's distaste for most of those concerned, apart from his sympathy with the victim's young mistress (the only one who really liked him!), who now has to find work again.

I only recently read the book this story is based on, and there is a surprising difference, in that text the dead body obstructs the safe door -- making it clear the robbery happened first, and possibly as a separate event.

One surprise is the lack of interest in finding the gun -- who might have had one, and why?

But, as ever, he ferrets away at the accounts of all concerned trying to work out the actual truth. A rather bizarre will emerges, the victim planned to divide his money amongst the 3 women in his life. But -- did any of them know?

As ever, the acting is extremely good, and in this one, the time flies by (not always the case!).

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. Frequent reviewer Whalen is as usual most accurate with his comments, so check that for the plot.

Maigret is intrigued by the case, his team think it's a waste of time, but he wonders why the victim is keeping so quiet, whether his family are hiding something, and why a witness statement (2 guys throwing a dead dog into the river) doesn't quite agree with that of one of the key characters ??

That, as ever, sets his nose twitching, and he ferrets away at the accounts of all concerned trying to work out the actual truth.

As ever, the acting is extremely good, and in this one, the time flies by (not always the case!).

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. Unusually, frequent reviewer Whalen (usually most accurate) hasn't placed one for this episode, so I'll have to outline the plot a little bit.

Maigret is somewhere down South, on a case, but before he returns, gets asked to help someone whose husband (of only a month) has gone missing. The girl doesn't trust him, (a regional dislike of cops), but he shows her that he can help.

The young man - a sports journalist - seems to have been trying to get a sum of money to buy a dance studio, so his wife can do the job ( a teacher) she loves. Where would he get a large sum quickly?

The local police chief thinks he's a crook, and resents Maigret trying to help (he'd made fun of an attempted arrest of an old petty thief with no record of violence).

Maigret gradually unravels what must have happened, by using the petty thief to follow the girl as SHE tries to find what happened. The story involves art thefts, and the death a couple of years before of one of the local crime family.

Once again, Maigret upsets the local chief, and if the story has a flaw, it's that the chap is so stupid he could be shoe leather, and how did he get promoted to that job?!

As ever, the acting is extremely good, and in this one, the time flies by (not always the case!).

At the end, Maigret does indeed receive a present. His friend the petty thief (now driving a taxi) had supplied a picture to interest a local 'fence'. That picture - a copy of a Cezanne - came from the wife of the pickpocket. As a thank you for helping to stop the arrest of the old chap (as if he'd kill someone?!) he is given the picture to take home for the long-suffering Mme 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 Maigret 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 some have been WONDERFUL. SADLY, this one is one of the worst of the entire series, taking 2 hours to tell the same story that the old BBC version did in one.

The other present reviews refer to the plot, and as usual Whalen is quite accurate in those details, except that he seems overly taken by the style the story was delivered in?

The story as portrayed was frankly quite ludicrous, starts with Maigret in Brussels for an awards ceremony, then he gets accosted quite easily by both halves of a married couple, each frightened the other will kill them? Yeah, right.

He gradually finds out why they are having problems, basically they've drifted apart, and should separate, but apparently he cannot advise this? The wife's sister (widowed, but not old and in fact rather attractive) lives with them as a kind of unpaid housekeeper, she resents her status, and rather likes the husband. Meanwhile, wifey is much more impressed with her handsome boss, who is putting her in charge of a planned new Paris shop.

So, simple advice would be to tell the wife to go and enjoy Paris, leave hubby to stay with his trains shop and the sister-in-law. Simple.

But instead we get bogged down -- and frankly bored to tears, with Maigret talking to all parties and getting 2 lesser lights of the Brussels police to follow the participants. On the way, the director gives us some silly jokes based on one of the detectives getting his name muddled up by all who talk to him. Laugh -- I nearly started.

Eventually there is a death, who did it? Well, not many characters to choose from, and by the end of almost 2 hours, I was beyond caring. It was well enough done, the players did their best with a poor script, but this was way down the list of this Cremer version. Style, yes. In this case, substance was crucially missing!!

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. As Whalen (usually accurate reviews) points out, this involves Maigret gradually unravelling the lies and half-truths told by his childhood'friend' Florentin, who may even be a murderer.

The review by Tobias, however, suggests that he got distracted, as his "actress who plays the mistress is especially good" apparently missed that the mistress is merely found as a dead body, right at the start, and never says a word?!

This story was also done in the terrific portrayal by Micheal Gambon, though that one had an extra lover to consider as the murderer, this Cremer version cut one out, despite lasting half an hour longer!

As usual, the acting is really good, but my main quibble is with the rest of Maigret's team -- in this one Lucas actually appears, but says nothing (he's Maigret's main assistant in all the books I read). The rest of the team are portrayed as pretty much nitwits, needing lots of prodding to make pretty basic investigations -- and that is NOT as per the books, or the British versions!

Other reviewers have covered the broad plot, flight money mad Antonia (McCrory -- RIP) wants to shed her boring husband Hector, but without shedding all his money too!

Dowdy vicar's daughter Rose has got fed up with her ex-fighter pilot hubby, who goes out drinking, beats her up and keeps her short of money.

They're old friends, and accidentally meet -- with Antonia soon hatching a plan to get rid of both husbands, so she can swan off with her boyfriend AND keep the cash on tap!

The support cast nicely portray the degree of suspicion around the first death -- how could a pilot just fall off a Tube platform? -- but can shy Rose carry off her part of the bargain and get rid of Hector?

That gets more complicated when they meet, and get on well together -- could there be another way that Antonia can escape with the wealth she adores?

You can watch this and may think the actual ending is quite clever, and there are some nice comic touches. I'm afraid I marked the film down a little just because I thought the ending was frankly daft, if you check the details, hopefully you'll see why!

But the 2 female leads are excellent, and Ron Cook, who's been in masses of support roles, does well in his unglamorous part.

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?

Saw this on the Talking Pictures channel, UK older films and TV. They showed the entire collection of the Rupert Davies Maigret episodes (BBC, early 60s) and are now showing this quirky, slow-paced French one (90s) with subtitles. We've also seen the ITV versions with Gambon in the lead (12 episodes, excellent, 1990s), and the less successful Rowan Atkinson attempts (2014, 15, or so?).

The atmosphere is very French, lots of slow thoughtful looks, and Maigret wastes few words, which fits with the books, as does the actor's rather lumbering figure. And there are subtitles, doubtless annoying for some, but done quite well.

No real complaints re the lead portrayal, except that in the books he does crack the odd joke, and has some repartee with faithful R-H man Lucas. In this however, Lucas hardly ever appears, not even mentioned in most episodes, which is STRANGE - I cannot recall a book without him featuring in some way!

This story is quite complex, with a variety of characters, some mysterious behaviour, and some incompetent members of Maigret's team.

As reviewer Whalen states (accurate as ever) this story is let down by the ending.

The Davies version covered it in HALF the time, and told the tale much better, without any sudden surprise revelations that the director was in too much of a hurry to show properly!

Here the acting is good (as usual), but I see no reason for a leisurely stroll through the first 70% of the episode, then a frantic disjointed sprint the rest of the way?!

Gradually Maigret, as usual, plods about and eventually discerns what happened, even though his belated seeing the light was largely kept from us!

I find it especially irritating that his team is radically different from the books I've read. It's a grating annoyance that Lucas, almost a constant in the books, hardly ever appears in this version -- WHAT did he do?!

See the other reviews for the plot details, and the cast, I'd broadly agree with those details.

The film does have quite a good pace, and I suppose the script is about what you'd expect from such things, not that I've seen many.

But Get Carter it certainly isn't, and it falls miles short. Of The Bank Job too.

It has a couple of funny lines, as such films often do, but the plot is beyond ludicrous, relies on umpteen daft coincidences, has a glaring continuity error, and the logistics are weird too, involving a trip up north, and a train ride, all unlikely in the limited time-frame of the plot.

Oh, and at the end, it relies on someone getting paid out with a windfall at a dog track, when he belatedly discovers his lucky choice won at massive odds. If the producers can tell us when a greyhound last won at THOSE odds, well, they can buy me a Lottery ticket for thee weekend too!

Brenda Blethyn was OK, but the whole thing gets 2 from 10 from me.

My title I think sums it up, a pleasant enough romance for afternoon TV?

Made by Hallmark, apparently, that I associate with greetings cards, but it seems they've branched into rather syrupy films too?

Other reviews have stated the broad plot, wedding planner comes to Paris to arrange her friend's wedding, and meets her old pen pal from some years back. Goodness, and he's French, and soooooo dishy (I thought he was gorgeous, and I'm not gay!). Plus it turns out he's inherited a Chateau, and runs his own property business. Wow, not too bad a catch then!

They start to rekindle those former feelings, and the audience can see where things are leading. There's a slight hiccup with an old boy friend at the wedding, but that doesn't deflect too much from the two leads finding true love in the closing shots. I also didn't think the actual wedding couple looked that credible, but this isn't a movie for any really deep thoughts?!

I have to take issue with a few of the other reviews, it seems that this film summoned thoughts of Audrey Hepburn, and 'Sabrina'? Well, in that film Hepburn went to Paris, matured as a woman, and returned to New York. But lots of films have Paris as a backdrop, and there is not the slightest chance of confusing Jansen with Hepburn. Jansen is passably attractive, but maybe a 4 out of 10 on a combination of looks and acting ability, on an avg scale for actresses? Hepburn lit up the screen in every film she did, and out of 10 on that scale would be about a 47.

Someone else, maybe a couple of people, quibbled that the leads were an American, pairing up with a French guy, but actually Jansen is Canadian, and Josh Sasse is English? Well, many Canadian actors have played Americans, did Donald Sutherland constantly get moans for doing that? No.

Sasse is English, but his ancestry contains umpteen nationalities, and he can speak English with a French accent perfectly well. It's called Acting. Rod Steiger once played Napoleon, it's called acting. Leonard Nimoy played an alien with pointy ears in Star Trek, but he didn't have to be fired into space, it's called acting. And Anthony Hopkins was wonderful as Lector (Silence of the Lambs), but nobody has suggested he actually ripped out any liver or kidneys to cook and eat them -- it's called acting.

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 pretty good, a mysterious murder of a former diplomat, and also a man who conducted a platonic love affair with a Princess for many years.

The review by Whalen details much of what happens, but I'd add that the acting is terrific, as usually the case with this series.

However, the old BBC series (60s), told the same story in half the time, quite effectively too!

I've seen some of this series, just caught up with the last but one, maybe tomorrow the ending.

Lots of reviewers like the easy pace, and the 'mystery' in each episode gets solved without car chases or shootouts, plus the 2 leads are experienced actors who can do this easy daytime show in their sleep, but unfortunately at times they pretty much do.

One or 2 less impressed viewers have mentioned the scripts, which at times have dialogue which is almost an insult to sane people.

As you've likely read in other reviews, Joan (Scacchi) is there because her hubby turned up dead, when he should have been in Spain. She met Jack (Darby -- lucky with those names, eh?!) by accident, and equally luckily, he's a retired (& disgraced!) cop who can help her quest, as they wander round Queensland.

As someone else said, the show is like Father Brown, or Midsomer Murders perhaps, a gentle watch without bad language. It won't win any Oscars (or whatever the TV awards are ?!), and I'd recommend recording it so you can at times fast forward, but it's an OK watch for probably the more mature audience. Hopefully the last episode tells us what happened to Hubby?!

Saw this on the Talking Pictures channel, UK older films and TV. They showed the entire collection of the Rupert Davies Maigret episodes (BBC, early 60s) and are now showing this quirky, slow-paced French one (90s) with subtitles. We've also seen the ITV versions with Gambon in the lead (12 episodes, excellent, 1990s), and the less successful Rowan Atkinson attempts (2014, 15, or so?).

The atmosphere is very French, lots of slow thoughtful looks, and Maigret wastes few words, which fits with the books, as does the actor's rather lumbering figure. And there are subtitles, doubtless annoying for some, but done quite well.

No real complaints re the lead portrayal, except that in the books he does crack the odd joke, and has some repartee with faithful R-H man Lucas. In this however, Lucas hardly ever appears, not even mentioned in most episodes, which is STRANGE - I cannot recall a book without him featuring in some way!

This story is well known to TV viewers, both the Davies and Gambon versions covered it. This one extends the running time to almost 2 hours, and to no great effect, the other ones managed the tale in an hour, or about 85 minutes, and were just as good if not better.

Here the acting is good, the actress playing Felicie is in many scenes, and has to compete with Maigret, she has to convey her own innocence in the murder (other reviews have outlined the story) and also try to conceal what SHE believes is the likely involvement of her boyfriend and lover. Gradually Maigret, as usual, plods about and eventually discerns what happened.

One oddity is that he uses Janvier for some help (one of his team at HQ), however Janvier is played by a different actor to the chap who appeared a number of times in previous series! AND -- as I've said, a grating annoyance is that Lucas, almost a constant in the books, hardly ever appears in this version -- WHAT did he do?!

Saw this by accident, changing channels, and I think it's probably THE worst film I've ever seen, at least, of those I saw at least 10 minutes of.

It has, bizarrely, Don Johnson, and De Niro, I presume because they got a fat fee for little actual work.

Seagal was in it too, at least it could have been him, as he was made up with what looked like a ton of plasticine on his face, and some strange new hair that may have at some point belonged to someone else.

I hadn't seen the star before, and it was the sort of movie that didn't need him to play Hamlet, likely just as well.

Oh, and some very attractive girls appeared now and then.

The plot? Um, gibberish. BUT -- the bits I saw did have a sort of modern ballet theme, worshipping various guns & missiles, that might work for some viewers,

Oh, and near the end, there was another odd scene, a parade of some weird bouncing cars, one reared up, like a bronco, squashing a bad guy when it came down. Like I said, gibberish. I presume the target audience would be young guys needing some extra brain cells?

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 Maigret 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 some have been WONDERFUL, this one is OK, well acted, but was also done in the old BBC series, and the later Gambon episodes. I'd say both of them were superior to this one -- and they tell the story perfectly well in far less time.

The other present reviews (inc Spears and Whalen) have outlined the story, and the assorted characters, very well (though La Rochelle isn't a "village" - sorry Spears! - and this story is NOT set there, just nearby).

Maigret gradually finds out why the victim was detested by everyone, a crabby old woman who opened or stole mail, spread rumours and openly insulted almost everyone. She'd even disinherited her daughter, didn't like the husband or child. How did she last so long?!

He senses that the 'outsider' teacher has been framed as a handy scapegoat, but was the 'murder' actually an accident? Who ACTUALLY saw something, and what has been invented.

As Whalen recalls, he comes out with a great line, after the local policeman (who IS from nearby La Rochelle!) asks if he knew what happened, does he have a "lead"? Well, "not a lead, but a scent" - and likens such cases to being near the sea, you can smell wen you're getting close. Great line -- and sums up how Maigret operates, by talking, or at least prodding others to talk, and listening and watching very carefully.

This version differs from the previous we've seen, in that the teacher was never shown, stayed in custody (a salary saved I suppose?!). It also didn't make very much of the sub-plot, a dodgy insurance claim after a boy had been injured in the street, that boy not being in school and so could he be a witness - he can walk to his window - or is he actually the culprit?

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 some have been great. THIS one however is really disappointing, it gets off to a ludicrous start, Maigret is on a train, travelling to meet his wife, but supposedly gets fascinated by a passenger (we see no real evidence), so much so that when the man jumps off the moving train, so does our hero, LEAVING BEHIND his belongings including papers and money?! As if cool calm and collected Maigret would do such a thing?!

He twists an ankle, ends up in the hospital of the small town in the title, and he then gets sucked into a murder mystery that's been causing a scandal, with attacks on women dating back several years.

The reviews by orebaugh and whalen as usual describe the events very well, and like me are baffled why the producers decided to radically change the plot in the book? This episode was in the old BBC (Rupert Davies) series, and they did a much better job with this story, told in just an hour too!!

Maigret digs back into the past (that concept was in the book), and finds a likely motive concerning the 4 key people in the small town, doctor, lawyer, police chief and mayor. Then the estranged wife of one of them becomes another victim, just when she was about to reveal some secret to him.

Any casual viewers of this episode should beware a scene in which we get to see graphic details of the porn collection that one of the suspects keeps in his attic. I hope the series gets back on track with the next one!

Saw this on the UK Talking Pictures channel, who are showing all 4 series of Maigret, originally early 60s BBC. We're in the 4th series now, and the quality has generally improved, though this one has some issues!

Maigret's old friend calls him in re the murder of the captain of a fishing trawler, which has been at sea for a month, and the captain gets bumped off as soon as it returns. They're seeking the ship's young wireless officer, seen near the murder incident and has run away.

Maigret takes the chance to placate his wife in taking her for a weekend away, as her holidays are usually ruined by crime, but when Lucas turns up (even wearing a holiday hat) she realises the deception. However, she has met the girlfriend of the chief suspect, and campaigns for his innocence.

Maigret and Lucas find the young man, and try to discover what happened, but the crew aren't talking, and the young suspect seems quite confused. They realise the crew are likely innocent, if they had wanted the captain dead, he'd have had an 'accident' at sea, not wait until the ship docked. A complication is discovered, the captain had a female guest in his cabin, and they find her jealous boyfriend. They also hear that the cabin boy, on his first trip, was lost overboard, and the captain overnight had become a changed man.

Gradually our heroes home in on a suspect, and they manage to get the accused 'sparks' to tell the truth. Though the story of this episode isn't bad, some of the acting is, real amateur dramatics dodgy audition stuff. Usually by series 4 it's much better.

The 2 reviews at this time both have an odd comment, Fisher refers to the busty barmaid (the one who'd gone for a 'cruise' with the captain) as having an 'Irish' accent doubling for 'Breton' (where the port is supposed to be). She actually sounded like she was imitating an American accent heard in films.

And Prismark is again wide of the mark (happens quite often) in saying that no culprit was found, the last few minutes referred to how the cabin boy had died, how the captain got murdered when the ship docked, AND what happened to the killer. Maybe he popped out at the wrong time and missed the crucial bits?!!

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. As Whalen (usually accurate reviews) points out, this victim has slept with what seems like half of Paris, so presumably many husbands and boyfriends with motive, and even his father says that his business success has bankrupted rivals, so even more with motive?!

But those issues are hardly new, so why a killing now? The death occurred right outside a well-known brothel, where the victim had taken one of his several very beautiful 'secretaries', all of whom are used to being used for a 'quickie' in the office, or they get taken for a treat to this, er, 'hotel' for an hour or two.

With a cunning bit of direction, we the viewer got a blurred view of the shooting, as we were put in the eye of the brothel keeper. Maigret gets some admissions from her, but not much of a description of the culprit. He discovers the victim's wife is also a brothel patron, she knew all about her husband, everyone is quite relaxed about what went on.

Maigret plods about, the investigation doesn't get very far, and quite slowly! Then, in conversation with an interested party, if not a witness, someone with a potential grudge comes to light. Plus, he finds he is being followed, by a scruffy little man, is this the killer?

At last, they meet, in Maigret's office. The full story comes out, and as often the case in Simenon's books, Maigret has some sympathy for the criminal, once he's understood why it happened.

What we NEVER heard though -- unless I missed it in the subtitles?!! -- was any reference to the totally different offices that the team are working from! This was the first episode of a new series, and it looked like the traditional Quai des Orfevres had been transformed into a converted warehouse (?), you'd have thought somebody would have referred to it?!

Oh, and one review (Derek) is completely out of line, take no notice!

The presently 3 other reviews have outlined the plot, especially Whalen, who as usual has a pretty accurate summary.

A dodgy businessman has upset masses of investors and clients, over many years, readily goes bankrupt if necessary, then springs back up.

Assorted folk with a grudge and motive are assembled one afternoon, just in case he deigns to see them when he awakes from his usual afternoon nap (2 to 3pm) - except this time he doesn't. They are in a downstairs waiting room, and cannot access the office, his much younger wife is asleep also upstairs. But they collectively hear a shot.

Maigret doubts the more obvious suicide conclusion, even though the magistrate (French law has one of those at the head of investigations) thinks it's more convenient. Why would he have bought tickets for Mexico if he was planning suicide?! Then forensic tests show the victim had no gunpowder residue on his hands -- not him then!

And Maigret has nagging doubts about an open window, does it have any part in the problem?

As Whalen says, it's all derived from a short story, and doubtless the film does pad out the characters rather more, but in fact only 3 of them could have been the murderer, with Maigret gradually homing in on the guilty party. One oddity is that a key character is played by the same actor as had a key role (Inspector Cadavre) in an episode not that long ago! But the whole thing is one of their lesser efforts, hence my low mark for it.

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 WONDERFUL, Maigret has to puzzle out what caused a murder amongst an oddball group who spend much of their time - well, certainly the summer -- lazing in the sun off the south coast (filmed at Porquerolles). Unusually he has a Scotland Yard inspector following him - to learn from his methods -- as well as his nephew, who the producers seem to have decided is now his long-term assistant (sorry Lucas, pushed aside again?!).

The other present reviews (inc Spears and Whalen) have outlined the story, and the assorted characters, very well. Maigret points out to the visiting English detective that he really has no 'method', other than to plod about chatting in an almost friendly way about who knows who, why are they on the island, how did people get on with the deceased, etc.

He gradually extracts little snippets of info from the cast of characters, gets some background details from Paris (despite complaining how long it will take), then spots that a nosy telephonist (who puts all the calls through to and from the island -- this IS the 1950s!) has a secret hobby of listening to the calls!

The victim had suddenly boasted of a chance to make some big money, and it seems he had also suddenly taken an interest in art.

With the victim turning out to have been killed by a bullet from the same gun involved in an earlier murder, a case that featured another character of the island's summer residents, Maigret gets two birds in one. The episode is a great example of Maigret at work, not quite typical as most of his cases are generally in the grey and sometimes rainy confines of Paris!

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, and THIS one is I'm afraid one of those, despite the help of acclaimed actor Michael Lonsdale, playing a dissolute Englishman. Incidents at canals or locks seem a recurring theme for Simenon, and this one sadly featured characters that had little appeal, I couldn't really care who'd bumped off the spoilt wife, or the later sponger on the fancy boat.

The other present reviews (Bob and Whalen) have outlined the story, and Maigret eventually unearths an incident from the past, which, allied to quite a coincidence meeting, leads to one death, and later another.

I was nodding off well before the end though -- and I'm not wildly impressed with these episodes having recently it seems compressed several of Maigret's inspectors into his nephew, who apparently gets seconded as needed at short notice?

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! At this stage in these Cremer versions, his nephew has appeared, it seems a composite of his team in the books?

I haven't liked all the episodes so far of this Cremer version, but the last 2 or 3 have been excellent, sadly this one was a real 'clunker'. It could have been another homage to Agatha Christie, and a 'country house' mystery (though set in a Paris mansion of a very wealthy lawyer).

As the other reviews have described, it's a murder that started with a letter warning of one, plenty of suspects, mum, dad, 2 privileged kids, a couple of other lawyers, a very attractive secretary, and a bunch of servants. In one telling and typical moment, Maigret declares himself more at home 'below stairs'!

As usual, the acting is very good, but I couldn't warm to this one, I nodded off several times well before the end.

The drawback I thought was with the pacing, and although it is the style of this series to be slow and thoughtful, this one overdid things a bit in that regard? At one point somewhere in the middle -- the victim had yet to be bumped off -- I thought I didn't really care who it would be, or 'whodunnit'.

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 pretty good, with Maigret having to puzzle out the life of a man who does very little, a boring job and life, and even his own family have grown to dislike him?

The other present reviews (Orebaugh and Whalen) have outlined the story, and Maigret gradually unearths a number of motives for murder, as he finds the victim's daughter knows a little more than she admits, and is everything really OK where he worked? Plus, would a non-gambler have bought a lottery ticket, or had he been doing some creative accounting at his workplace? As is usually the case, some lovely acting, especially from the victim's wife, his daughter, and that other woman (or is she?!).

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 pretty good, apparently an homage to Agatha Christie, and her Orient Express mystery?

As the other reviews have described, it's a murder on a train, the culprit must be one of the passengers, but the dead man's documents have disappeared, so without knowing who he is rather hampers the investigation. As ever, Maigret slowly eliminates most of the suspects, then makes a breakthrough.

As usual, the acting is very good, and there are some nice touches, Maigret ordering lunch for 30 or so passengers in a rural spot with few facilities! He also chides his nephew several times, and takes delight in catching out several passengers when they've lied.

The only drawback I thought was with the pacing, although it is the style of this series to be slow and thoughtful, this one overdid things a bit in that regard?

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! The review by Whalen details much of what happens, but I'd add that the acting is terrific, a range of disparate characters in a small nondescript country village that is somewhere near Dole, the Jura region by the Swiss border. Where it apparently rains a lot?!

Two vagrant murders are linked, one was in Paris, the gun used for that one turns up by a murder victim in this village, Maigret has to discover what the link is back to this country backwater, full of suspicious characters who don't much care for the outside world.

The story is somewhat like the episode in series 7 (Enfant de Choeur) in which Maigret has to find out what a small group of characters are hiding, though that village (or perhaps small town) actually has a road with tarmac, pavements, a tram, and a few shops, so he doesn't keep getting his shoes all muddy!

The core of this one is two feuding sisters, living in a divided house (I was reminded of the old Steptoe comedy story?!) just hurling venom and insults at each other for many years. Both say they don't know the local victim, who was found in a shed in their garden.

Gradually Maigret discovers crucial details, about the Paris victim, who'd been a seasonal farm worker between the wars. Then it's discovered that the local victim had been engaged to one sister, married the other one, then left them both. But they both say they don't recognise him?? Merde Alors - or perhaps, Mud Alors?! And how did the 2 vagrants know each other?

Lots of good acting, I liked the granny, said to be deaf, but sees and hears lots of things, gives Maigret a couple of good clues, and the widowed village cafe and shop owner (all in one!) who clearly takes a shine to him -- as well as his shoes! As the other reviews have said, sit down and enjoy.