Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Le Septième juré (1962)


This Georges Lautner movie stars Bernard Blier as Grégoire Duval, a respectable pharmacist, who kills a young woman called Catherine because she refuses to made love with him. The police believe that her lover Sylvain Sautral is the killer, while Duval is afraid to tell the truth. For the trial, Duval is chosen as one of the jury, and he does what he can to acquit Sautral. But is it enough?
The trial is one of the rare moments ever. Duval, the 7th jury, cross examines the witnesses better than both the prosecutor and the lawyer. Sautral himself feels very grateful to Duval. Before the trial, Duval goes to a priest and tell the truth. The priest later writes to the police, but they don't believe him. Daily, Duval uses to play poker with the judge, prosecutor, jury, major,... in short he is a respectable citizen. When at last Duval finally can't take it anymore and tells the truth, none believes him, not even Sautral. For although Sautral is acquitted, people still believe he is the killer and Sautral can't rest until the real killer reveal himself. Sautral also refuses to leave the town.

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