Panurge: A strange, dusty trip through old French cinema

If you have a high tolerance for theatrical, borderline manic performances, you might get a kick out of Panurge. If you need your movies to make sense in a linear, logical way, stay far, far away.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Panurge (1932) through its definitive frames.

This isn't a movie for people who like their pacing tight. It feels like someone filmed a stage play while the actors were having a bit too much espresso.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Panurge (1932) through its definitive frames.

Watching Gérard Sandoz operate is… something. He’s got this frantic energy that makes you wonder if he’s going to accidentally knock over the set pieces. It’s not subtle. It’s barely contained.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Panurge (1932) through its definitive frames.

There is a specific moment where the blocking gets so cluttered it looks like a pile-up on a highway. You can see the actors trying to find their light, bumping into furniture, and just hoping the camera doesn't catch the chaos. It’s hilarious if you’re in the right mood.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Panurge (1932) through its definitive frames.

It reminded me a little of the messy, lived-in feel of The House of Toys, though with significantly more shouting. You aren't watching this for the plot, which is thin enough to see through anyway.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Panurge (1932) through its definitive frames.

Things I scribbled in my notebook:

• The background extras in the café scene seem like they are actively trying to ignore the main characters. It’s actually kind of impressive.
• Someone clearly forgot to pull the curtain on the left side of the frame for an entire dialogue sequence.
• Danielle Darrieux is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, looking like she’s the only one who realized they were filming.

The dialogue is thick with that old-school, overly dramatic flair that feels like it belongs in a museum. Sometimes it hits, but mostly it just feels like everyone is fighting to be heard over the room tone. It’s a lot.

Is it a classic? Absolutely not. Would I watch it again? Probably not. But I’m glad I saw it, if only to see how much noise they could pack into a single room. 🎞️

It’s the kind of movie that feels like it’s held together with tape and pure willpower. If you appreciate the weird, jagged edges of early film, it’s worth a look. If you don't, you’ll be checking your watch every five minutes.