The Bruno Cremer "Maigret" series is exceptional and reminds me of those great British books-to-television mystery series from the 80s/90s such as Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes, David Suchet's Hercule Poirot, and (my favorite) John Thaw's Inspector Morse. Having said that, I find this episode, based on "Maigret and the Apparition," a bit weak when compared to the others in the series. While the film (sort of) remains true to the book's core plot-the mystery and motivations-it deviates often from the source material in many ways. Maybe the producers felt a need to take a break from the same locations for shooting and opted to have the story rewritten by setting it in Helsinki (and thus they get a trip to Finland). This change is an awkward one with Maigret directing a case outside of France, and while they do provide a reasonable workaround for that in the script, it still doesn't ring true fully. (I say this but must admit that George Simenon, author of the Maigret books, would occasionally take Maigret out of Paris and even outside of France.) Some book characters are consolidated, and some are changed (e.g., the film has an important character as a prostitute who in the book is not). Also, plot points here and there are different when comparing book to film.
So, what to make of this awkward book-to-film adaptation? How does the film hold up if one doesn't consider the source material or if one hasn't read the source material? I think it's OK, not bad, and worth your time if you like an interesting mystery with a twist or two. Heinz Bennent, as art dealer Gustav Jonker, is perfectly cast and captures the character perfectly. (I'd read the book long before seeing this episode and I found Mr. Bennent to be exactly how I imagined the character.) Elizabeth Bourgine, as his wife Mirella Jonker, pulls off a rather difficult role. Without these two actors I'm not sure I could recommend this episode, but I do because they both are that good.
So, what to make of this awkward book-to-film adaptation? How does the film hold up if one doesn't consider the source material or if one hasn't read the source material? I think it's OK, not bad, and worth your time if you like an interesting mystery with a twist or two. Heinz Bennent, as art dealer Gustav Jonker, is perfectly cast and captures the character perfectly. (I'd read the book long before seeing this episode and I found Mr. Bennent to be exactly how I imagined the character.) Elizabeth Bourgine, as his wife Mirella Jonker, pulls off a rather difficult role. Without these two actors I'm not sure I could recommend this episode, but I do because they both are that good.