I’ve read a great many of Simenon’s novels, and I’ve seen many films based on his works. I worked as press agent on Le Chat and La Veuve Couderc, and I’ve noticed the presence of a number of interesting films when looking at the filmography of adaptations of his work. The same cannot be said, for example, of James Hadley Chase. Certain directors, not very highly considered by critics, found in Simenon, a way and an opportunity to make some of their best films. Take, for example, Gilles Grangier with Le Sang à la tête, Henri Decoin with La Vérité sur Bébé Donge and Les Inconnus dans la maison. For many, only La Nuit du carrefour existed, which is no doubt a wonderful film, with a surprising style, a bit incomprehensible, but very engrossing. But I also remember Duvivier’s Panique, and En cas de malheur, two very good films.

Bertrand Tavernier, in Simenon Travelling, Grenoble, 11ème Festival International du Roman et du Film Noirs, 1989