I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

the audience applauded

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

This is an eminently forgettable flick among the numerous Maigret's investigations ;this one takes place (check the title) in Pigalle and was probably made to attract a "different" audience who ,besides,might be disappointed if they expect hot stuff .Gino Cervi,a comic actor,is not well cast and does not seem to be that much interested in this whodunit in which he helps his colleague ,superintendant Lognon ( The Onion)(Alfred Adam).As for the story ,an educated prostitute who likes Beethoven,Stravinski ...and the Beatles -she owns a copy of "rubber soul" - is murdered ,then a countess is slain.The only relatively interesting subject concerns Raymond Pellegrin and his wife (Lila Kedrova) who is ten years older than he is ;but they get lost in a muddled screenplay.