''Coral Reefs'' (French title: ''Le Récif de corail'') is a 1939 French-language adventure film made in Germany. Directed by

Maurice Gleize Maurice Gleize (1898–1974) was a French screenwriter and film director.Hayward p.201 Selected filmography Director * '' The Red Night'' (1923) * '' Madonna of the Sleeping Cars'' (1928) * '' A Hen on a Wall'' (1936) * ''Coral Reefs A cora ...

, the screenplay was written by

Charles Spaak Charles Spaak (25 May 1903 – 4 March 1975) was a Belgian screenwriter who was noted particularly for his work in the French cinema during the 1930s. He was the son of the dramatist and poet Paul Spaak, the brother of the politician Paul-Henri ...

, based on a novel by Jean Martet. The film stars

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976) was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films including ''Pépé le Moko'' (1937), '' La grande illusion'' (1937), ''Le Quai des brumes'' ...

, Michèle Morgan, and

Pierre Renoir Pierre Renoir (March 21, 1885 – March 11, 1952) was a French stage and film actor. He was the son of the impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir and elder brother of the film director Jean Renoir. He is also noted for being the first ...

. It tells the story of a wanderer in Australia who kills a man in a fight and goes on the run. He meets a girl who is hiding in the wilds and the two fall in love, but they are pursued by a determined police detective.

Plot

In Brisbane, Ted Lennard kills a criminal in a struggle and manages to get aboard the Portland, a cargo ship bound for Mexico. On the way the vessel stops at Togobu, an unclaimed coral reef inhabited by a few happy Polynesians and an Englishman who hates civilization. On arrival at Mexico, money is missing from the captain's cabin and Ted is confined in the hold. When the money is found, the ship is back at Brisbane and Ted is released with apologies. He heads up country to avoid arrest, but in a café is seen by Abboy, a dogged police detective. Taking to the wild, he comes across an isolated cabin occupied by a young woman, Lilian. She lets him stay and, as they gradually become fond of each other, he suggests they escape to Togobu. Then one day Abboy appears. He tells Ted that he is no longer wanted for murder, but Lilian is. She runs away to the nearest town, which is in the grip of an influenza epidemic, and falls ill. Ted tracks her down, but so does Abboy. The policeman uses his authority to get her special treatment and she eventually recovers. Ted meanwhile has been working hard and has earned enough for two rail tickets to Brisbane. In the harbour they find the Portland, and ask the captain if he will take them to Togobu. Out of the shadows steps Abboy, who decides that Lilian died in the epidemic and his case is closed.

Main cast

as Ted Lennard * Michèle Morgan as Lilian White *

as Abboy *

Saturnin Fabre Saturnin Fabre (4 April 1884 – 4 October 1961) was a French film actor. Selected filmography * ''La rafale'' (1920) - comte de Bréchebel * ''Mademoiselle de La Seiglière'' (1921) * '' The Road Is Fine'' (1930) - Le professeur Pique * '' ...

as Hobson *

Gina Manès Gina Manès (born Blanche Moulin; 7 April 1893 – 6 September 1989) was a French film actress and a major star of French silent cinema. After an early appearance in a Louis Feuillade film, she had significant roles in films of Germaine Dulac and ...

as Maria *

Jenny Burnay Jenny may refer to: * Jenny (given name), a popular feminine name and list of real and fictional people * Jenny (surname), a family name Animals * Jenny (donkey), a female donkey * Jenny (gorilla), the oldest gorilla in captivity at the time of ...

as Anna *

Julien Carette Julien Henri Carette (23 December 1897 – 20 July 1966) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1964. Selected filmography * '' American Love'' (1931) * '' George and Georgette'' (1934) * '' My Heart I ...

as Havelock *

Louis Florencie Louis Florencie (4 December 1896 – 4 December 1951) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1927 and 1951. Selected filmography * ''Companion Wanted'' (1932) * '' Beauty Spot'' (1932) * '' Suzanne'' (1932) * '' ...

as Captain Jolifé *

Guillaume de Sax Guillaume de Sax (1889–1945) was a Belgian actor. De Sax was born Guillaume Henri Robert de Segur Lamoignon in Belgium and died in France. He was married to the actress Cécile Sorel. Partial filmography * '' Ernest the Rebel'' (1938) * ''Three ...

as Springbett *

René Bergeron René ('' born again'' or ''reborn'' in French) is a common first name in French-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and German-speaking countries. It derives from the Latin name Renatus. René is the masculine form of the name ( Renée being the femini ...

as Jim * Gaston Modot as Mexican colonel *

Pierre Magnier Pierre Frédéric Magnier (February 22, 1869 - October 15, 1959) was a French actor who began on the stage in the 1890s and became a prominent silent film actor in France. He was the second actor to portray '' Cyrano de Bergerac'' in any film in ...

as a doctor *

Léonce Corne Léonce Charles Corne (18 March 1894 – 31 December 1977) was a French film actor. He appeared in 120 films between 1931 and 1974. Selected filmography * '' The Girl and the Boy'' (1931) * ''Luck'' (1931) * '' The Premature Father'' (1933 ...

as a hotelier * Yves Deniaud as a shopkeeper

Preservation

Long presumed to be lost, the film was sought after by Serge Bromberg who found a copy at the Yugoslav Film Archive in Belgrade in 2013. The film was then restored in coordination with the Archives françaises du film and re-released.

Notes

External links

''Le Récif de corail''
at Films de France * * 1939 films 1939 drama films French drama films Films set in Oceania Films set on islands Seafaring films Films directed by Maurice Gleize French black-and-white films UFA GmbH films 1930s French films {{1930s-France-film-stub