The Last Metro – DVD Review

One of the newest additions to the Criterion Collection line of DVDs is François Truffaut’s star-studded crowd pleaser, The Last Metro. Original released in 1980, the film’s transfer looks nearly flawless, as to expect from Criterion, and the special features will take more than a night to get through. All fans of film would do themselves a service to pick up both The Last Metro and The 400 Blows, which were both released on blu-ray by Criterion this week.

The Last Metro tells the tale of the Theatre Montmarte in Nazi occupied Paris in 1942. The former director and manager of the theater, Lucas Steiner (Heinz Bennent), has gone into hiding in the cellar to evade deportation. His wife, Marion Steiner (Catherine Deneuve), takes over his duties and secretly visits him before the actors arrive to the theatre and after they leave. Although the theater has a new stage director, the homosexual Jean-Loup (Jean Poiret), Lucas’ hand is ever present through his expansive written stage directions and communication through Marion.

The newest release from the Montmarte theatre is a Norwegian play entitled The Woman Who Disappeared. The lead man, opposite Marion, is Bernard Granger (Gérard Depardieu), a former Grand Guignol actor now getting his big break. We meet Bernard early on as he tries to win the affections of the production’s costume designer, Arlette (Andréa Ferréol). Rounding out the supporting cast is Nadine Marsac (Sabine Haudepin), an ambitious young actress.

The film has a villain, which is uncommon for Truffaut, in a Nazi-sympathizing critic called Daxiat (Jean-Louis Richard). Because he has issued Montmarte permits and has a hand in allowing the theatre to remain open, the actors are unable to express their distaste for the rude oaf. On opening night, he leads the standing ovation – only to leave a negative review in the paper the next day and criticizing the production for it’s “Jewishness”. 

The film deals with material we’ve seen before, however it succeeds through it’s subtleties. There is sexual tension between Bernard and Marion that goes largely unacknowledged throughout the film, and the love triangle between those two and Lucas is also left for us to explore on our own. While things wrap up a little too nicely at the end, the film succeeds in not holding our hand throughout the 131 minute running time. 

The Last Metro is a worthwhile melodrama that doesn’t insult your intelligence. The performances are great all around, particularly Gérard Depardieu, and the film’s muted colors create an antique atmosphere that’s completely distinctive from other works of Truffaut. I would certainly recommend renting, and even purchasing a blu-ray copy of The Last Metro for your collection.

Rating: