''Cecile Is Dead'' (French: ''Cécile est morte!'') is a 1944 French

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

directed by

Maurice Tourneur Maurice Félix Thomas (; 2 February 1876 – 4 August 1961), known as Maurice Tourneur (), was a French film director and screenwriter. Life Born Maurice Félix Thomas in the Épinettes district (17th arrondissement of Paris), his father was a w ...

and starring

Albert Préjean Albert Préjean (; 27 October 1894 – 1 November 1979) was a French actor, primarily in film. He served in World War I, and was decorated with the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour. With Lysiane Rey, he was the father of Patr ...

Santa Relli Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring gifts during the ...

and

Germaine Kerjean Germaine Kerjean (1893–1975) was a French stage and film actress.Crisp p.306 She spent a decade with the Comédie-Française. In films she frequently played character role A character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, ...

. It is based on the 1942 novel of the same title by

Georges Simenon Georges Joseph Christian Simenon (; 12/13 February 1903 – 4 September 1989) was a Belgian writer who created the fictional detective Jules Maigret. One of the most prolific and successful authors of the 20th century, he published around 400 ...

featuring his detective

Jules Maigret Jules Maigret (), or simply Maigret, is a fictional French police detective, a '' commissaire'' ("commissioner") of the Paris ''Brigade Criminelle'' ('' Direction Régionale de la Police Judiciaire de Paris:36, Quai des Orfèvres''), created ...

. The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...

Guy de Gastyne Guy de Gastyne (; 10 May 1888 – 3 February 1972) was a French art director. In his youth, he was a footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Racing Club de France and for the French national team in the 1911 UIAFA European Football Tournament a ...

. The film was made by the German-controlled

Continental Films Continental Films was a German-controlled French film production company. It stood as the sole authorized film production organization in Nazi-occupied France. Established in October 1940, it was entirely bankrolled by the German government ...

Main cast

as Le commissaire Maigret *

as Cécile *

as Madame Boynet *

Luce Fabiole Luce may refer to: People * Luce (name), as a given name and a surname * Luce (singer) Places * Luče, a town in Slovenia * Luce, Minnesota, an unincorporated community * Luce Bay, a large Bay in Wigtownshire in southern Scotland * Luce Co ...

as Madame Petitot, la concierge *

Liliane Maigné Liliane Maigné (1 March 1928 – 20 December 2004) was a French actress. Biography Liliane Maigné was born 1 March 1928. Her father was André Maigné (1903–1936), her mother Madeleine Paroissien (1908–1983). She married Jean-Charles Tacche ...

as Nouchi *

André Gabriello André Gabriello (1896–1975) was a French film actor. A character actor known for his supporting roles, notable appearances included Jean Renoir's '' Partie de campagne'' (1936) and Maurice Tourneur's '' Cecile Is Dead'' (1944).Waldman p.16 ...

as Lucas *

Jean Brochard Jean Brochard (; 12 March 1893 – 17 June 1972) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1933 and 1966. Selected filmography * '' A Man's Neck'' (1933) - Petit rôle (uncredited) * ''Boubouroche'' (1933) * '' ...

as Dandurand * André Reybaz as Gérard Pardon * Yves Deniaud as Machepied *

Marcel Carpentier Marcel Maurice Carpentier (; 2 March 1895 – 14 September 1977) was a French Army general who served in World War I, World War II, and the First Indochina War. Early life Born on 2 March 1895 in Marseille, he was the eldest son in his family ...

as Dr. Pierre *

Marcel André Marcel André (2 January 1885 – 13 October 1974) was a French film actor.Goble p.87 Selected filmography * ''Si l'empereur savait ça'' (1930) - Albert (Master of the Horse) * ''Soyons gais'' (1930) - Townley * ''Le père célibataire'' (1931) ...

as Le directeur de la P.J. *

Henry Bonvallet Henry may refer to: People and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainment ...

as Le juge d'instruction *

Charles Blavette Charles Blavette (24 June 1902 – 21 November 1967) was a French film actor. He appeared in 50 films between 1933 and 1966. Selected filmography * ''Jofroi'' (1934) – Antoine * '' Angèle'' (1934) – Tonin * ''Toni'' (1935) – Antonio ...

as Monfils

References

Bibliography

External links

* 1944 films French crime films French detective films 1944 crime films 1940s French-language films Films directed by Maurice Tourneur Jules Maigret films 1940s police procedural films French black-and-white films Continental Films films 1940s French films Films scored by Roger Dumas French-language crime films {{1940s-crime-film-stub