French film titan Jean Gabin starred as Inspector Maigret in three films, which have all been collected in this new Blu-ray set. Based on the novels by Georges Simenon, Gabin’s Maigret is a veteran chief inspector who doggedly pursues murder suspects until crimes are solved. Produced between 1958-63, the films show the legendary actor in a commanding performance more impressive than any of the stories.
Buy Inspector Maigret CollectionIn Maigret Sets a Trap (1958), Maigret hunts a serial killer who is targeting brunettes in the Montmartre area. When he narrows down his target, he devises a method to lure the killer into a trap using undercover female detectives as bait. Shockingly, after he nabs his suspect, another murder is committed in the same style, leaving Maigret to untangle the mysterious circumstances obstructing his efforts to end the real killer’s reign of terror.
Maigret and the St. Fiacre Case (1959) finds Maigret visiting his childhood village of Saint-Fiacre at the invitation of the wealthy local countess. He had a crush on her in his youth, and now finds himself in the role of protector as she struggles with a written death threat. When she drops dead while attending a church service, seemingly from a heart attack, Maigret searches for signs of foul play. This brings him in contact with assorted characters who stood to benefit from her death, with Maigret eventually calling them together for a thrilling confrontation.
Maigret Sees Red (1963) puts Maigret in the middle of a violent gang war on the streets of Paris. The fireworks start when three American mobsters gun down an opponent and remove the body before the police arrive, leaving only a pair of glasses behind. Maigret is forced to outplay FBI agents also dispatched to investigate, relying on his insider knowledge of Paris to stay one step ahead of them while pursuing his own form of justice.
None of the crimes are particularly complex, with little in the way of ingenious twists and turns. That makes Gabin the absolute star attraction and primary reason to watch. While his Maigret doesn’t have to get too far off the beaten path in his investigations, it’s a pleasure to observe the veteran go through the motions of competent police work. He’s methodical and completely unbothered by the chases, rarely registering a pulse aside from an uncharacteristically fiery diatribe to close the second film.
It’s also hard to discount the inherent cool of urban France circa 1960, with street shots dripping with noirish atmosphere. The fashion, the vehicles, the charming bars and cafes welcome viewers to a specific timeframe that can never be authentically recreated, showing a France still rebuilding from World War II while adapting traditions to sweeping societal changes. The settings are more interesting than any of the supporting characters, making much of the enjoyment come from simply watching Maigret navigate the dark corners of his homeland.
While no bonus featurettes are included, each film has a new commentary track, as well as theatrical trailers. The black-and-white films are presented in their original aspect ratios, with the first at 1.37:1 and the final two in 1.66:1. Image quality is excellent for all three films, with minimal noticeable flaws and impeccable contrast between deep dark tones and bright whites. DTS mono sound is crisp and free of hiss.
