Ironically-detective film performance with an excellent cast, staged on an elegant play (six-figure - not counting the auxiliary hapless Jean). The beauty of nuances becomes clear if you look at at least a second time - already knowing the denouement. Very organic in the image of heavy Yakovlev, not forgetting either about gallantry or gracsing with pronounce. Irina Shmeleva managed the image of the heroine playing a role. The scale of talent and professionalism of the unique Smoktunovsky becomes clear even by his short appearance in the frame, which can be viewed as a separate small film masterpiece.
The episode of exposing Karachentsov at the end of the film for perception is difficult - it is difficult to follow the accelerating whirlwind of manifestations of his confusion, which ended in recognition (probably the idea of the playwright). Otherwise, great. A vivid example of adaptations of plays by foreign authors, completing a number of similar films in Soviet cinema.