La ferme du pendu

The story ,even if takes place when agriculture was beginning to modernize (the threshing machine) ,was arguably inspired by Emile Zola's "La Terre".Vanel's character recalls the Père Fouan even if he does not want the earth to be shared between his brothers and sister.He loves the earth and nothing else and the conclusion of the film proves him right ,at least to the authors' eyes.

"La Ferme Du Pendu" (The hanged man's farm)is a rural melodrama ,without the thriller side of contemporary works such "La Ferme Aux Loups" or the celebrated "Goupi Mains Rouges" .Its depiction of the peasants is less caricatured than in Becker's work.The long scene of the wedding is excellent ,complete with songs (Bourvil in a supporting part sings one of his "logical" songs ),the bridesmaids' lament which goes on repeating that marriage carries away romanticism and true love ,blue jokes ,and a curious dance where the guests jump over chairs .

The movie transcends clichés :the farm girl who got pregnant by one of the brothers ,the bad boy who finally realizes that a child could be his salvation.Even if the word is not uttered ,the master of the farm wants his servant to have an abortion .

If Charles Vanel is great as the patriarch (actually the eldest brother),he is matched every step of the way by Alfred Adam ,a lady killer who becomes disabled and who turns mad before hanging himself desperate because of the child he would never have.

"La Ferme Du Pendu" is arguably one of Jean Dreville's three best movies (the others being " Les Affaires Sont Les Affaires" and "Le Visiteur";let's forget his celebrated tear-jerker , "La Cage Aux Rossignols " remade as "Les Choristes ).