alongside molinaro la mort de belle and the best adaptation of a simenon story for the big screen . helmer delannoy prove a past master at create a stifling atmosphere ( night scene and a hot stormy weather and a heady melody pervade the story ) and manage to make the tension rise and swell regularly until it explode in a triple climax ( maurice interrogation and the confrontation of maurice wife and mother and the final attempt to murder mauricette ) . so and when the rain finally start fall in the final second of the movie and it do as much good to bulky and weary gabin a it do to the tense viewer . of course and the film benefit from a great interpretation represent jean gabin give life to his determined shrewd exhaust commissaire while jean desailly shine a the poor but dangerous maurice whose boyhood have be prolong by the misguided love of his mother ( lucienne bogaërt and perfect ) . and annie girardot play subtly and with welcome restraint the love wife of a monster . sure and misraki music and song be haunt and the camera work be sleek and but what actually make this film a major work be that the author ( r. m. arlaud and delannoy and audiard ) be true to the spirit of simenon represent disillusion with human nature but sympathetic with those who be it victim and however monstrous they may appear to society .