Nathalie, agent secret (1959)
Directed by Henri Decoin

Film Review

Max Ophüls's Lola Montès (1955) had provided a temporary fillip to Martine Carol's ailing career in the mid 1950s but by the end of the decade she was looking distinctly like a star well past her best.  After Brigitte Bardot had ousted her as French cinema's number one sex bombshell, Carol struggled to create a new screen persona whilst waging a constant war against destructive insecurity that would end in her early death.  Christian-Jaque's Nathalie (1958) gave the actress a new lease of life as a sexy secret agent, but the follow-up feature Nathalie, agent secret, half-heartedly directed by Henri Decoin, did her few favours.  Decoin appeared to have even less interest in his leading lady than he did in the film overall, so what could have been another successful vehicle for Martine Carole ended up as a dreary spy film, lacking in logic, cohesion and charm.  Well past his best, Decoin goes through the motions but clearly has no real enthusiasm for the film and gives a plausible imitation of a director with no talent whatsoever.  Even by the low standard of Decoin's late films, Nathalie, agent secret is poor, a stark reminder of two once great film careers now in a state of terminal decline.

Film Synopsis

Nathalie and Pivoine are two models who are taking part in a fashion show at the Royal de Megève.  Pivoine has a crush on engineer François Pellec, the inventor of an atomic powered car engine. The engine's blueprints are kept under lock and key at the factory of the Darbon brothers.  Curious, Nathalie manages to infiltrate the factory but ends up being arrested by the police.  After another burglary took place on the same premises, Nathalie is suspected of being a spy in the employ of foreign powers.  Fortunately, she finds an unlikely admirer in Inspector Fabre and she is hastily exonerated.  Anxious to get to the bottom of the matter, Nathalie begins her own investigation but things take a serious turn when Pierre, the eldest Darbon brother, is murdered. Nathalie finds she has her work cut out for her if she is to solve this case.  In addition to Inspector Fabre she must deal with two likely spies, Dantoren and Alberto, whilst flirting with Jean, the youngest of the Darbons.  And what is she to make of the fact that Pellec was caught on camera in the factory on the very night that Pierre was murdered...?