Julien Couturier and his wife Louise, a young couple from Auvergne who have come to Paris to try their luck for the first time in their lives, become the owners of the "Café du Cadran" ("Clockface Cafe"). On opening day, they meet the people who will become their clientele. It's a busy place, with regular customers served by two waiters, Jules and Victor. While Julien is comfortable in his role as boss, Louise doesn't quite get used to this urban world, where everything moves faster, especially human feelings. She often misses Marcenait, the village in Auvergne where she and her husband ran the "Café du Commerce". Mr. Luigi, a café customer and violinist who performs at the "Café de Paris", has undertaken Louise's cultural education. He teaches her how to dress and do her hair, while recounting his musical successes and travels, skilfully playing on his undeniable seductiveness...
A young woman, Jane, finds herself entangled in a criminal enterprise after taking a job at the mysterious Clockface Cafe. When a murder occurs, she becomes the prime suspect and must race against time to uncover the truth before she is framed. The cafe itself seems to hold secrets, and its clientele are a strange mix of characters.
Clockface Cafe is a lesser-known but appreciated example of British film noir from the late 1940s. While not a box office smash, it has garnered a cult following for its atmospheric suspense and intriguing plot. Critics at the time noted its effective use of shadow and light, typical of the noir genre, and the solid performances from its cast, particularly Paul Henreid in a more mysterious role than his typical heroic parts.
Google audience: Audience reception information for 'Clockface Cafe' from Google users is not readily available due to its age and niche status.
The film features an early appearance by actor Paul Henreid, who would later gain international fame for his role as Victor Laszlo in 'Casablanca'.
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