Das Urteil (1974) watch online HD

....And he won the case."Verdict" is however one Cayatte too many.Realism which saved "justice est faite" "les risques du metier" and solid screenplays which made "avant le deluge" or "le glaive et la balance interesting if overblown works became some kind of "enough is enough" .For the first time in his career,Cayatte included nude scenes (Muriel Catala and Michel Albertini,the doomed lovers,appear in their birthday suit during a whole sequence ,more a desire to be a la mode than a genuine artistic move!).

Sophia Loren portrays a woman whose son might have killed her lover (see above).In order to put pressure on the judge (Gabin) she abducts his wife (Gisèle Cassadessus) a diabetic,which makes the matters worse.

Watchable because of the actors.But do not expect much.

I''ve waited a long time to decide to watch that rare Gabin shot by Cayatte, and my "firm conviction" was right : lousy script, boring and absolutely unbelievable. Both Gabin and Loren are dull, not concerned by their characters, I now understand why this movie is so rare, because it is absurd, pushing too far a ridiculous situation. However, there is a short but important passage in which Gabin the judge explains the law N°353 about the "firm conviction", more important than prooves. But that's all.

Of course it is not one of Cayatte's best film like _Justice est faite (1950)_(qv) or _Avant le déluge (1954)_(qv), but it is for sure a very gripping story served by a Gabin equal to himself - even though we are used to see him in this kind of role; and a very hard, yet vulnerable Sophia Loren in one of her last meaty roles (with the exception of the brilliant _Una giornata particolare (1977)_(qv)). Cayatte was in the second half of his career by then and was able to do this film with a top-notch cast after the immense success of his unforgettable _Mourir d'aimer (1971)_(qv)) about the "Gabrielle Russier case". Once more Cayatte shows the flaws in the judicial system very well as he has done in the past. A film to rediscover if you have not seen it before, you will be kept on the edge of your sit. If you have, you will take pleasure in seeing two of the best actors in the history of cinema playing together for the first and last time.