Danielle Darrieux

  • Pascal Thomas – L’heure zéro aka Towards Zero (2007)

    2001-2010ComedyFranceMysteryPascal Thomas

    An updated French version of Agatha Christie’s 1944 novel by François Caviglioli, Clémence De Bieville, Roland Duval and Nathalie Lafaurie as directed with style and panache by Pascal Thomas. Instead of England the action is transferred to the breathtaking beauty of Brittany, France. Not only does the magic of Christie’s mystery remain intact, but it is enhanced by the significant rugged coastlines of the area (captured beautifully by cinematographer Renan Pollès) as the setting for the mansion overlooking the sea where the action takes place.Read More »

  • Henri Decoin – Battement de coeur AKA Beating Heart (1940) (HD)

    1931-1940ComedyDramaFranceHenri Decoin

    Director Henri Decoin and actress Danielle Darrieux made many fine films together (Le Domino vert, Abus de confiance, La Vérité sur Bébé Donge), but few are as charming and funny as the romantic comedy Battement de coeur. Thanks to its prestigious cast, witty dialogue and abundance of comic situations, this fifth Decoin-Darrieux offering is a delight. It was also the last film they made together before their divorce the following year, although they remained friends afterwards and worked together on four subsequent films.Read More »

  • Henri Decoin – L’affaire des poisons AKA Hangman and the Witch (1955)

    1951-1960DramaFranceHenri DecoinMystery

    Synopsis
    The Marquise de Montespan is a scheming adventuress who hopes to become the favoured mistress to King Louis XIV of France to advance her social status. However, she is thwarted by the young Angélique de Fontanges, who is the King’s current favourite. Out of desperation, the Marquise de Montespan engages the services of a professional poisoner, the venomous La Voisin, to render her rival ugly. The potion unfortunately kills the young Angélique, and the royal court is thrown into turmoil…Read More »

  • Yvan Noé – Mademoiselle Mozart (1936)

    1931-1940ComedyFranceMusicalYvan Noé

    This French musical comedy was based on the stage play Mademoiselle Mozart, written by Yvan Noe, who also co-directed the screen version. Danielle Darrieux plays Denise, the owner of a music shop that is facing closure. Wealthy young Maxime (Pierre Mingand) falls in love with Denise but knows full well that she despises rich folks and would refuse to accept his charity. Thus, Maxime arranges to secretly buy the store then takes a job with the establishment as a humble sheet-music salesman. When Denise finds out that her new employee is actually her boss, she is furious, but rest assured that Love Will Find a Way. The lovely Danielle Darrieux is permitted to sing on several occasions, which she does enthusiastically if not altogether expertly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideRead More »

  • Henri Decoin – Bonnes à tuer AKA One Step to Eternity (1954)

    1951-1960DramaFilm NoirFranceHenri Decoin

    Synopsis:
    ‘François Roques, a power-and-money-mad editor of a Paris newspaper (who justifies his actions by calling attention to his poverty-stricken childhood), invites four women to a housewarming at his penthouse apartment. He plans on one of them to meet death by means of a loose railing on the balcony. The invitees are: Constance, François’ first wife, whose love and integrity also stood in the way of his schemes; Véra Volpone, his second wife, from whom he is seeking a divorce, and who, with the aid of her lover, is blackmailing François; Maggy, his mistress who aids him in his illegal transactions; and Cécile, his fiancée, who is pregnant by another man. The women arrive, tension overwhelms them and the host, three of the women depart…and Francois is alone with his intended victim.’
    – Les AdamsRead More »

  • Claude Autant-Lara – Occupe-toi d’Amelie! AKA Keep an Eye on Amelia (1949)

    1941-1950ClassicsClaude Autant-LaraComedyFrance

    Synopsis:
    Amelie is a Cocotte (=a tart); she trades on her charms,abetted by her father who plays a role generally delegated to mothers (Gremillon’s “Gueule d’amour” or Allegret’s “Maneges” ). She is wooed by every Tom, Dick and Harry passing by. She’s currently supported by a military man, courted by a foreign prince – who gives the equivalent of the French Legion d’honneur to dad, – and, besides, she is to marry a young lad who covets his wealthy uncle’s heritage: the necessary and sufficient condition for getting the dough is getting married.Read More »

  • Marie-Claude Treilhou – Le jour des rois (1991)

    1991-2000ComedyFranceMarie-Claude Treilhou

    Synopsis
    A lot of quarrels ,the day French people eat the Galette Des Rois.Read More »

  • Henri Decoin – Retour à l’aube aka She returned at dawn (1938)

    1931-1940ComedyFranceHenri DecoinRomance

    Retour à l’aube is like Russian (or should we say Hungarian) dolls dreaming of each other : when the dream seems a dead-end or a nightmare, a new one begins in another tone. Danielle Darrieux being the unforgettable doll and key leading to the following dream, following film : drama, comedy, romance, musical, crime, oniric tale, etc… a perfect rainbow directed by Decoin. A film that could be compared to Pierrot le Fou for this rare quality of going through genres and tones as lightly as the air, which I tend more and more to attribute to people having penetrated the secret of cinematic life… or is it just love ? MaybeRead More »

  • Joseph L. Mankiewicz – 5 Fingers [+Extras] (1952)

    USA1951-1960Joseph L. MankiewiczThriller

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    Synopsis (possible spoilers):

    “Based on a true story. In neutral Turkey during WWII, the ambitious and extremely efficient valet for the British ambassador tires of being a servant and forms a plan to promote himself to rich gentleman of leisure. His employer has many secret documents; he will photograph them, and with the help of a refugee Countess, sell them to the Nazis. When he makes a certain amount of money, he will retire to South America with the Countess as his wife.”
    – Ken Yousten (IMDb)Read More »

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