Le Journal Tombe A Cinq Heures (1942)

An aspiring reporter (Marie Dea) on a major newspaper is being mentored by a star reporter (Pierre Fresnay) although their relationship is often antagonistic. When he betrays her, will she be able to forgive him? Directed by Georges Lacombe (whose work I'm not familiar with), this is the French equivalent of those girl reporter movies churned out in Hollywood in the thirties and early forties. Unfortunately, Fresnay's arrogant reporter is on the unlikable side and I found his transgression toward Dea unforgivable. In fact, the movie's expose of a Paris newspaper (or should I say tabloid) is quite unflattering. There's a poignant subplot about a French movie star (Tania Fedor) working in Hollywood but returning to Paris incognito that's rather touching. The melodramatic finale on a lightship caught in a raging storm provides some needed impact. With Pierre Renoir, Bernard Blier, Marcel Vallee and Fred Pasquali.