L'Etrange Monsieur Victor (1938)

A respectable businessman (Raimu) in the town of Toulon owns a small shop which he uses as a front for his other business: a fence for a group of thieves. But he is passionate about his family and his reputation. When he is threatened with exposure, he murders the blackmailer (Georges Flamant). An innocent man (Pierre Blanchar) is convicted of the crime. Seven years later, the man escapes from prison and heads to Toulon. Directed by Jean Gremillon (THE LOVE OF A WOMAN), this is a strange dramatic crime film. The film begins with a generous dose of humor so that I thought it was going to be more comedic than dramatic, then it turns dark. It was filmed in Berlin rather than France though you'd never know it. The movie takes several unexpected twists and turns as themes of guilt, honor and fidelity take prominence. Filled with characters who are less than honorable (Madeleine Renaud's loyal wife is an exception), it all comes to a satisfying end. With Viviane Romance and Andrex (sic).