Directed by Marcel Carné and written by Jacques Prévert, down a foggy, desolate road to the port city of Le Havre travels Jean, an army deserter looking for another chance to make good on life. Fate, however, has a different plan for him, as acts of both revenge and kindness render him front-page news. Starring: Jean Gabin, Michel Simon, Michèle Morgan, Pierre Brasseur, Édouard Delmont, Raymond Aimos and Robert Le Vigan.
One of the qualities which classic films can hold to make them timeless is a strong presence, and Port of Shadows is a fantastic example because there’s immediately an enveloping elegance to it. It draws you in effortlessly, there’s this thick air of intrigue and romance. Something that’s enhanced by the intimate tone and the rolling fog, captured by a brilliant aesthetic. The original work enhanced by the new restoration makes it hard to believe it was made in the 1930s as it’s so deliciously textured and luxurious.
A key to Port of Shadows’ success, alongside being stunningly shot, is how it presents this story. Far too often cinema from that era fell foul of melodramatics and preposterous plots but Jacques Prévert avoids that entirely, adapting from Pierre Mac Orlan’s novel. It’s impressively smooth, it has such a poetic flow and brings through the elements of crime and mystery so suavely. The risk and touch of darkness are certainly there but they’re not forceful or overwhelming, the characters don’t serve the plot, it serves them. They’re given the space to be the focus, concentrating on Jean’s (Jean Gabin) burgeoning romance with Nelly (Michèle Morgan), not the salacious acts happening around them.
It’s a clever and hugely enthralling choice as the chemistry between Gabin and Morgan is truly excellent. When you think of romance in a classic film, this is exactly what comes to mind. It’s electric but understated, there’s an immediate understanding and compassion between them, and it nicely starts off with a bit of banter and quintessential chivalry. While Michel Simon helps to elevate the crime vein of Port of Shadows, his performance is calculated yet driven by emotion.
Port of Shadows is a superb piece of classic cinema. The visual is impeccably restored and it’s a pleasure to watch it seamlessly unfold. Marcel Carné builds a romantic atmosphere which is charming and brought to life so well by Jean Gabin and Michèle Morgan. The story is extremely well written to flesh out the plot enough while allowing it to keep a relatively simple focus. Creating something that has an edge of thrill but gives its romance breathing room to develop into something alluring and suave.
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