Moontide (1942)

☆ ☆ ☆

Moontide (1942) – A. Mayo

Jean Gabin’s first Hollywood picture (he didn’t make many) sees him playing a dockworker who may have killed a man during a drunken binge that he can’t remember.  But that summary makes this film sound a lot more noir than it really is (despite Fritz Lang’s reported early involvement).  Instead, it is more of a drama about a group of people kicking around a dead end port city in Southern California.  Gabin has to put up with Thomas Mitchell’s character sponging off him (because he knows a dark secret from the past) but he’s easy-going about it.  However, when he falls in love with Ida Lupino (after rescuing her from attempted suicide by drowning), there is friction because Mitchell would rather leave and prevent their marriage.  (I didn’t notice the gay subtext until later).  Gabin also makes friends with Claude Rains’ night watchmen who seems a key suspect for the murder, particularly when he burns some of the evidence; however, this might also be read as his effort to protect Gabin.  Everybody loves the Frenchman and Gabin’s charisma mostly translates into English – but this vehicle is a bit too stodgy and less cool than he needed.  Still, there is some charm here and the sense of community that is built, particularly coming together for the wedding, is not really that far from what Renoir often achieved (and of course Gabin starred in one of that master’s greats).  The stellar black and white cinematography by Charles G. Clarke was nominated for an Oscar. But if you want the best of Gabin, stick with his French films (by Renoir, Carné, Becker).