Notable left wing sympathizers Yves Montand and Simone Signoret read Arthur Miller's The Crucible in bed nightly and determined to play it in France, which they did on the Paris stage and a little later on film. Roulou directed some 23 mostly undistinguished films - though he fared better as an actor - and he makes little or no attempt to be cinematic, allowing in the main the text to do its work. At the time - mid/late 50s - Montand was still far better known as an outstanding singer both in concert and on record despite his fine performance in Clouzot's Le Salaire de la peur, whilst his wife, Signoret was well established as one of the finest French actresses of her generation yet the viewer is unaware that they are anything other than two fine actresses interpreting a fine script. This is one that tends to get lost in the shuffle and is unfairly neglected.
Review of The Crucible
