Under the Roofs of Paris (1930)
"Sous les toits de Paris" (original title)

Albert is smitten for Pola but ends up wrongly committed in jail, in the meantime her affections are sort after by his friend, and on his release both love and friendship must be tested.

Director:

René Clair

Writer:

René Clair

Stars:

Albert Préjean, Pola Illéry, Edmond T. Gréville

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Albert Préjean	...	Albert, a young street singer
Pola Illéry	...	Pola, a Roumanian girl
Edmond T. Gréville	...	Louis, Albert's friend
Bill Bocket	...	Bill, The Big Boss
Gaston Modot	...	Fred, a purse thief
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Raymond Aimos	...	Un gars du milieu
Thomy Bourdelle	...	François, the other thief
Paul Ollivier	...	Drunkard
Jane Pierson	...	Fat Woman with Purse

Storyline

While singing in a lower class quarter in Paris, the street singer Albert falls in love with the Romanian party girl Pola, who is the companion of the gangster Fred. One night, Albert meets with Pola, who has just found that Fred had stolen her key, and his friend Louis proposes to toss to date her. However, Albert brings her to his room and they spend the night together, with Albert sleeping on the floor and Pola on his bed. Early in the morning, the pickpocket Émile brings a bag with stolen pieces and asks Albert to keep the bag for him. When the police busts Albert's room and finds the stolen goods, he is arrested and sent to jail. Meanwhile Fred travels and Pola seeks comfort with Louis, and they stay together. When Émile is arrested by the police, he confesses that Albert is innocent and he is released and seeks out Pola. Meanwhile Fred returns to Paris and also seeks out Pola that is with Louis. The three men that are under the spell of the gorgeous lady dispute her love and ...

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Plot Keywords:

france | working class | talkie | tenement | place name in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French Romanian

Release Date:

2 January 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Under the Roofs of Paris

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films Sonores Tobis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis Klangfilm) Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening sequence and the street scenes etc are done in a purposely built studio.

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Quotes

Albert, a young street singer: [On seeing Pola bedding down on his bedroom floor] Okay, take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor.

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Connections

Featured in Langlois (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Sous les toits de Paris"
Written by René Clair, Raoul Moretti and Rene Nazalles
Sung by Albert Préjean

User Reviews

Wonderful Transition between Silent and Sound Eras

While singing in a lower class quarter in Paris, the street singer Albert (Albert Préjean) falls in love with the Romanian party girl Pola (Pola Illéry), who is the companion of the gangster Fred (Gaston Modot). One night, Albert meets with Pola, who has just found that Fred had stolen her key, and his friend Louis (Edmond T. Gréville) proposes to toss to date her. However, Albert brings her to his room and they spend the night together, with Albert sleeping on the floor and Pola on his bed. Early in the morning, the pickpocket Émile (Bill Bocket) brings a bag with stolen pieces and asks Albert to keep the bag for him. When the police busts Albert's room and finds the stolen goods, he is arrested and sent to jail. Meanwhile Fred travels and Pola seeks comfort with Louis, and they stay together. When Émile is arrested by the police, he confesses that Albert is innocent and he is released and seeks out Pola. Meanwhile Fred returns to Paris and also seeks out Pola that is with Louis. The three men that are under the spell of the gorgeous lady dispute her love and only one wins.

"Sous les Toits de Paris" is a film with a wonderful transition between silent and sound eras. This is the first René Clair's film that I watched and I found very original and interesting the style of this director that uses the acting of silent movies with gestures and facial expressions and dialogs instead of intertitles, everything supported by the marvelous song "Sous les Toits de Paris" and impressive camera work. The paradox of this delightful film are the low-life characters, composed by pickpocket (Émile); gangster (Fred); a pickpocket that steals the girl of his friend (Louis); and an easy woman (Pola). It is also unusual that the girl does not end the story with the good guy, showing no commercial concern like in most of the Hollywood movies. Not only Albert, Fred and Louis, but I have also been bewitched by the beauty and charm of Pola Illéry. I did not find any information about the death of this actress in Internet. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Sob os Tetos de Paris" ("Under the Ceilings of Paris")