Who Killed Santa Claus?

1941 [FRENCH]

Comedy / Drama / Mystery

4
IMDb Rating 7.2/10 10 738 738

christmas french alps

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Plot summary

A village in the French Alps is rocked by a series of crimes, including the theft of a sacred ring and the murder of a man dressed as Père Noël (Father Christmas).

Director

Christian-Jaque Photo
Christian-Jaque

Top cast

Fernand Ledoux Photo
Fernand Ledoux as Noirgoutte - le maire
Jean Parédès Photo
Jean Parédès as Kappel, - le sacristain
Jean Brochard Photo
Jean Brochard as Ricomet
Mona Dol Photo
Mona Dol as Madame Tairraz - la femme de l'horloger
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
958.02 MB
986*720
Russian 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 44 min
Seeds 13
1.74 GB
1480*1080
Russian 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 44 min
Seeds 26

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by boblipton 7 / 10

A Boxing Day Miracle

We get a good look at a small village in Savoie for an hour before Father Christmas is found dead. This gives us a chance to look at all the suspects: the local Prince, Raymond Rouleau, returned after ten years' absence, suffering from leprosy which has already blighted his hand; the local globemaker who has gone from home to home as Father Christmas for three decades, the inimitable Harry Baur; his dreamy daughter, Renée Faure; her suitor, schoolteacher Robert Le Vigan; crazy Marie-Hélène Dasté, who has been searching for her cat forever; the kindly pharmaicst Jean Brochard; and the children, who believe in Father Christmas and depend on the gifts he brings. There's also a diamond stolen from the church, worth more than the entire village. All this happens before Father Christmas is found dead, and then strange things happen.Will the murderer be found? Will the diamond be returned? Will the children get their presents? All of these are of equal importance, because despite the mystery at the center of the story, all good murder mysteries are about the restoration of moral order to the universe, and this is a charming little village filled with people who care about each other. It is only the solution that can restore that order.Because this is the first film produced by Continental Films, the production company set up by the occupying Germans, there is a tendency to look on it as German propaganda. In fact, the remit of the company was to produce pure entertainment, and that is what we have here. With excellent actors under the direction of solidly commercial director Christian-Jaque.
Reviewed by vincent-ledoux-2 8 / 10

Excellent Christmas atmosphere for the period.

Although some actors are a little too 'pushy' on the drama side, the camera shots are excellent. Harry Baur is indeed excellent, along with Raymond Rouleau and Fernand Ledoux. While Renée Faure, M-H Dasté and Le Vigan's performance are a little "too much" for my taste and the genre of the movie. The "over-doing" breaks the pace of the movie.The early version of the French Santa Claus (Père Noël) is very charming.Made under German occupied France in 1941, I find this movie remarkably done. Especially considering that the Gestapo tortured Harry Baur to death a couple years later.Astonishingly enough, the children in the movie are performing quite well. The cameo from Bernard Blier is also memorable toward the end.I recommend this movie to all French movie lovers, now available on DVD under the "René Château" label. PAL, Zone 2, if your player can accept it.
Reviewed by writers_reign 8 / 10

Stompin' In The Savoie

This has the dubious distinction of being the first release of the infamous Continental Films and top-billed Harry Baur also has a distinction but one I feel sure he would have been happy to waive, that of being the first major French actor to be tortured to death by the Gestapo within months of shooting this fine movie. Baur was a veteran actor who made his first film in 1909 and was an early - if not actually the 'first' Maigret and he graced many (77 but who's counting) fine French films with his presence. Those who have seen Bertrand Tavernier's masterpiece 'Laissez-Passer' which was set in Paris and specifically featured Continental will take extra pleasure in seeing an actual product of the company (Douce is another that should not be missed). Pere Noel is now available on DVD and I have to say that the quality is excellent. Cynics may question a 'village' in the Savoy Alps that boasts chateaux like the one here in which we half expect to see Errol Flynn duelling with Basil Rathbone such is the scope and magnificence of its great stone-flagged floors with at least one fireplace as big as the White Horse Inn. I tend to agree with the viewer who stated that the plot is flimsy and is far outclassed by the atmosphere, which is terrific though again one may wonder how a globe-maker would make a living in a remote Alpine village. These things to one side the film is a joy and though It is very doubtful whether any of the fine actors - with the exception of Baur and Fernand Ledoux - would have been known outside France even in 1941 let alone today that is one more pleasure to savour, making the acquaintance of actors who were once only names in Reference Books. This is one I'll watch again.
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