Retro Reel: Port of Shadows

Criterion Collection, 1938, 91 minutes
 
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This movie is in the FetchDog Top 20
 
A trio of Gallic heartthrobs - Jean Gabin, Michele Morgan, and a spunky terrier mix - head the cast of this moody masterpiece by Marcel Carne, who adapted Pierre Mac Orlan's novel together with his frequent collaborator, the poet Jacques Prevert.
 
Gabin plays an army deserter who stops in the port city of Le Havre on his way out of the country. While hitching a ride, he stops the driver from hitting a stray dog, who promptly becomes his sidekick. Things are looking good for the two handsome ruffians - until the human half of the duo falls hard for a sad, 17-year-old beauty (Morgan). Along the way we also see the great character actor Michel Simon of Boudu Saved From Drowning fame.
 
In the pantheon of boy-and-dog tales, this is by far the most advanced, and the most heartbreaking. A fine RX for a broken heart, it is bound to make anyone feel better simply by virtue of its relentlessly depressing theme: the world is one hell of a tough, cruel place. Just when you think your ship has come in, another one passes in the night - and sinks it.
 
There's no more compelling argument than Port of Shadows for bypassing romance and sticking with the unconditional love of a dog. As the terrier proves, dogs know how to make the best of a bad situation. 

Presence of dogs:
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Canine star quality:
Family friendly:

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