The Watchmaker of St. Paul
Seen it?1974 | 105 min | Thriller, Drama, Crime
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1974: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Michel Descombes is a watchmaker who lives in Lyon with his teenage son Bernard. When the police visit and inform him that Bernard has killed a man and is on the run with a girl, Michel realises that he knew far less about his son than he thought.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
Won 1 Berlin award: Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize. Also nominated for 1 more Berlin award. Plus 1 other award.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$7 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 5K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Bertrand Tavernier
- Philippe NoiretMichel Descombes
- Jean RochefortCommissioner Guilboud
- Jacques DenisAntoine, friend of Michel
- Yves AfonsoInspector Bricard
- Julien BertheauEdouard, friend of Michel
- Jacques HillingCostes, journalist
- Clotilde JoanoJanine Boitard, journalist
- Andrée TainsyMadeleine Fourmet
- William SabatierLawyer
- Cécile VassortMartine, workwoman