Sous le signe du taureau (1968)
Directed by Gilles Grangier

Film Review

This run-of-the-mill drama marks the final chapter in the long-standing relationship between director Gilles Grangier and actor Jean-Gabin.  Beginning  with La Vierge du Rhin in 1953, the two men worked together on a dozen films over a fifteen year period, most of these films being popular successes.  Although Grangier's film later films - of which this is a fair example - lacked the atmosphere, pace and originality of his earlier works (which were influenced by film noir), they were still very well-received by the French cinema going public.

Sous le signe du taureau is a film that is both unsatisfying and also strangely unsettling. It has the style of a typical 1960s thriller, but also the feel of a documentary. The film is presumably intended to be a social drama and it does indeed make some meaningful comments on the competing interests of commerce and science in an increasingly technologically driven world. However, the whole thing is so leaden and detached, so lacking in human feeling that it fails to have any real impact.

Film Synopsis

The industrialist Albert Raynal has high hopes for his latest project, a revolutionary new missile, the SR01.  Unfortunately, the missile explodes on its first test flight and Raynal's financial bankers, one of whom is his brother-in-law Jérôme Laprade, withdraw their support for any further research and development.  Raynal's banker, Magnin, then refuses to cover the inventor's debts and he can expect no sympathy from his badly neglected wife, Christine, who is on the point of divorcing him.

When a wealthy friend of his, Augagneur, also lets him down, Raynal goes chasing after another potential backer, Vacher, who made his fortune as a scrap metal merchant.  This proves to be another let down and Raynal is driven to desperate measures to ensure his dream project gets off the ground again.  If no one is prepared to lend him money, he will have to resort to writing uncovered cheques.  When this fraud is discovered, the only person who is inclined to bail Raynal out is his wife...