Synopsis
François (Guitry) is a young sculptor who falls madly in love with his model Catherine (portrayed by Guitry’s real-life wive Genevieve). When his eyesight fails him, Bressoles begins to feel unworthy of Catherine…Read More »
Aimé Clariond
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Sacha Guitry – Donne-moi tes yeux AKA My Last Mistress (1943)
1941-1950DramaFranceRomanceSacha Guitry -
Pierre Billon – L’homme au chapeau rond AKA The Eternal Husband (1946)
1941-1950DramaFrancePierre BillonAn adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s “Le Eternel Mari”, a somber story of marital infidelity, revenge and near madness, and starring Raimu in his last film appearance.Read More »
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Jean Dréville – Les affaires sont les affaires (1942)
1941-1950DramaFranceJean DrévilleNouveau riche
In spite of a very poor rating, this film is really a killer! By far Jean Dreville’s most important film as well as one of the best Charles Vanel’s performances. First intended for Raimu, it seems that Vanel was finally a better choice and anyway if you give this movie a chance, he’s gonna blow your mind. Lord! What an actor!Read More »
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Sacha Guitry – De Jeanne d’Arc à Philippe Pétain AKA From Joan of Arc to Philippe Petain AKA 1429-1942 (1944)
1941-1950DocumentaryFranceSacha GuitryThis film was shown in the movie theaters two months before the landing and afterward completely disappeared only to reappear in 1993. This is of course a propaganda movie .But not more than Stelli’s “Le Voile BLeu” .
Beginning his movie with an evocation of Joan of Arc was not completely incongruous ; Guitry probably thought it was a sign from God ;1429: Joan’s odyssey begins ;birth of the Homeland ,1942: under the yoke of the Nazis ,but still proud of its past ,the country remembers .1429,1942 sinister anagram.Joan found since taken over by the far right wing .Read More »
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Max Ophüls – De Mayerling à Sarajevo AKA From Mayerling to Sarajevo (1940)
Drama1931-1940FranceMax OphülsPoliticsSynopsis:
In the late 1800’s, Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, falls for Sophie Chotek, a Czech countess. He’s already a problem to the Crown because of his political ideas; this love affair with someone not of royal blood breeches protocol. The Crown allows the union only after the couple agrees to a morganatic marriage. The emperor further neutralizes Franz by making him inspector general of the army, sending him afield for months at a time. In June of 1914, fearing for his safety, Sophie seeks permission to accompany Franz to Sarajevo; protocol dictates that no army troops attend Franz while she is present. An assassin strikes. Their deaths spark World War I.Read More »