Word: fresnay
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...novel based on this provocative fragment of history, French moviemakers have put together a masterly picture. Subtly but forcefully, with compassion, humor and a spirituality that never grows sanctimonious, it explores the struggle within the layman-priest (Pierre Fresnay) and the clash between the impulsive religious ardor of the islanders and the authority of a church jealous of its sacred functions...
...Sexton Fresnay, ragged, unschooled and in awe of the pulpit, agrees against his will to take up a few of the priestly duties. But he is pushed deeper & deeper into the role by the demands of his flock. He rejects the girl (Andrée Clement) who wants to marry him, moves into the rectory, reluctantly listens to confessions, fearfully goes through the motions of giving absolution...
...Fresnay's anguished conscience struggles against his growing sense of mission and pride of accomplishment. The islanders persuade him to complete the imposture by celebrating a Mass. Before he can go through with it, a priest (Jean Brochard) arrives from the mainland, touches off a conflict that brings the movie to an end in a final surge of dramatic power...
French offerings lead the list once more. Louis Jouvet, the best actor in movies anywhere, stars in Lady Paname, which opened last week at the 55th Street Playhouse, near Seventh Avenue. God Needs Men is at the Paris, 58th and Fifth, with Pierre Fresnay in the lead role. Both Jouvot and Fresnay are masters in French with gentle cynicism...
...Raven," which shares the bill, is a French mystery about a poison-pen campaign that sets a small French village into turmoil. It contains glimpses of some of the nastiest people ever assembled on one movie lot, and that includes the hero, Dr. German, who is played by Pierre Fresnay. The movie's favorite acting device is the pregnant pause, which is woefully overworked. Moviegoers who have seen "The Thirteenth Letter" will find that it is the same movie, scene for scene. They will also find that the American version is just as convincingly acted and considerably easier...