All in sobriety, Jean Gabin shines in this relatively unknown dramatic comedy broadcast this Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 8:55 p.m. on Arte. Made by Gilles Grangier, with a certain Michel Audiard to the dialogues, this adaptation of a novel by George Simenon is worth a look.
Jean Gabin is a hundred feature films on the clock. Almost impossible therefore to know them all. However, his filmography covering over 40 years contains many nuggets. Already star in the 1930s (before the war and a hollow period), he settled in a real sacred monster of cinema in the 1950s. Do not touch Grisbi (and the crazy requirements of Lino Ventura), Napoleon, Razzia on the chnouf, Dogs lost without necklace, The miserable (His biggest success with nearly ten million admissions) … The boxes are linked for him at that time. The actor is everywhere. So that in 1956, Jean Gabin leads no less than five films to the cinema – which seems pretty crazy today. Just over two months before worship The crossing of Parisit is the headliner of a much less known film, which however deserves to dwell on it: Blood to the head.
Blood to the head : a winning trio Gilles Grangier-Jean Gabin-Michel Audiard
Released in August 1956, Blood to the head Mark the third collaboration between Jean Gabin and the filmmaker Gilles Grangier. The two men will also work together ten times, the most memorable remaining undoubtedly The CAVE a rebiffe. Like the latter, a third man – and not just anyone – comes to put all his talent at the service of this fruitful duo, in the person of Michel Audiard. Gilles Grangier and Jacques Audiard’s dad thus adapt a novel by the famous Belgian author Georges Simenon (notably behind Commissioner Maigret) entitled The Cardinaud son. Jean Gabin lends his features to François Cardinaud, a former docker who has become one of the richest shipowners in La Rochelle. One day, his wife Marthe (Monique Mélinand) disappears. While he gets alone in search of him throughout the region, the rumor runs quickly that she left with Mimile (José Quaglio), a love of youth and a little strike-aventurer that has just returned from Africa. Known for his propensity to portray a social background in his work, Gilles Grangier here puts in image that of the shipowners and ponds of the ports of France of the years 1940-1950. It is mainly a question of a man of modest origin, former worker and pugnacious handler who has climbed the social scale.
For you shouldn’t miss Blood to the headsubtle dramatic comedy carried by Jean Gabin
Not accepted by the notables, François Cardinaud also arouses the resentment of his former colleagues and his former environment. Because he also cut it a little, while abandoning his wife in a very dreamers. All in restraint, sobriety, and pride, Jean Gabin brings his charisma to this subtle dramatic comedy with the looks of film Noir. Add to that the dialogues always frightening with truth and spirit of master Michel Audiard. Blood to the head put in the thousand!