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

Director:

René Clair

Writer:

René Clair

Release Date:

2 January 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

France | Working Class | Talkie | Tenement | Place Name In Title

Awards:

1 win

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

Directed by
René Clair

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
René Clair

Original Music by
Raoul Moretti
Vincent Scotto

Cinematography by
Georges Périnal
Georges Raulet

Film Editing by
René Le Hénaff

Art Direction by
Lazare Meerson

Costume Design by
René Hubert

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Georges Lacombe	....	assistant director

Sound Department
W. Morhenn	....	sound director
Hermann Storr	....	sound director

Music Department
Armand Bernard	....	music arranger
René Nazelles	....	lyrics
Bruce Sievier	....	English lyrics

Production Companies

• Films Sonores Tobis

Distributors

• Films Sonores Tobis (1930) (France) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Grapevine Video (video)

Also Known As:

"Sous les toits de Paris" - France (original title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | Romanian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis Klangfilm) | Silent

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Company:

Films Sonores Tobis

Trivia:

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

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Langlois (1970)

Soundtrack:

Sous les toits de Paris

Parisian low-life

This story follows the fortunes of Parisian petty street criminals, and, in particular, street busker Albert (Albert Prejean). He falls in love with Pola (Pola Illery) but things don't work out as he plans....

This is a good film despite being full of detestable characters. Albert's best friend steals his girlfriend and is quick to fight with him, and another colleague is a pick-pocket who is responsible for sending him to jail. Then there is Fred (Gaston Modot), a womanizing leader of a street gang. Fred is also involved with Pola and he remains a nasty piece of work throughout the film. However, worst of all is Pola - what a slag! She sleeps with everyone and seems to have no loyalty. She leads Albert on and doesn't let him score with her in his bedroom. She sends very mixed signals.

This bunch of no-gooders ensures that we sympathize with Albert and root for him throughout the film as he is the only character that shows us any decency. He is far too good to be mixed up in the life that he leads. The way that the film ends can only be seen as a blessing for him.

The film is half silent and the use of sound and silence is effective in each particular section, eg, the fight scene which also contains a funny moment - watch as Albert is offered a selection of knives for his fight with Fred. He inspects them all and rejects them all with an air of superiority before giving Fred a quick slap around the head and starting the fight. Even though the film is French and so the talking sections sound like "hongh-hi-hongh-hi-hongh", this is an entertaining film with some excellent camera shots and a catchy main song.