Carmen (1945)

Director:

Christian-Jaque

Writers:

Prosper Mérimée (based on a novella by), Christian-Jaque (adaptation),

Stars:

Viviane Romance, Jean Marais, Lucien Coëdel

Cast

Credited cast:
Viviane Romance	...	Carmen
Jean Marais	...	Don José
Lucien Coëdel	...	Garcia
Julien Bertheau	...	Lucas, le matador / Lucas, il matador
Jean Brochard	...	Lillas-Pastia
Georges Tourreil	...	Dancaire
Adriano Rimoldi	...	Marquez, le lieutenant des Dragons / Marquez, il tenente dei Dragoni
Elli Parvo	...	Pamela
Mario Gallina	...	Un marchand / Un mercante
Marguerite Moreno	...	La gitane / La zingara
Bernard Blier	...	Remendado
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anna Arena	...	La dame dame dans la diligence / La bella signora nella diligenza
André Bervil	...	Un moine / Un frate
Adriana Dionisi
Luigi Garbuio

Storyline

---

Plot Keywords:

opera | based on novel | character name in title

---

Taglines:

She's Sultry...Bold...Daring!

---

Genres:

Drama | Music

---

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

French

Release Date:

26 November 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Story of Carmen

Filming Locations:

Scalera Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

DisCina, Invicta Film, Scalera Film S.p.a.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min 111 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although produced in 1942, the film was only released in France and Italy in 1945 (in February and May respectively).

---

Connections

Version of Carmen on Ice (1990)

User Reviews

A long line of Carmens

There may have once been a grain of truth in the original Merimeé novel, but it has been turned into an icon beyond recognition as much as La Dame Aux Camelias has. Vivian Romance camps it up playing "gitaine" for all it's worth. She plays it like grand opera, probably the director's immediate frame of reference. When one thinks of the Rom one thinks of oppressed people, and it is perfectly consistent to see a young woman from an oppressed group as a sexpot--- that's their value. It is no accident that the story has been redone with former slaves (Carmen Jones) and by Senegal, although in that case, while still oppressed and clandestine, she is more in command than some of the others. Two of the best Carmens are by Sara Montiel and Imperio Argentina, although there is no question that we are watching a bourgeois stereotype regarding what the directors consider a "lower class." Romance's Carmen is worth seeing for comparison.