Paris Frills (1945)
"Falbalas" (original title)

Philippe Clarence, a famous Parisian dressmaker, seduces his friend's fiancee. But, for the 1st time in his life, this is for real. The film is also a sharp picture of the fashion world.

Director:

Jacques Becker

Writers:

Maurice Aubergé (scenario and adaptation), Jacques Becker (scenario and adaptation),

Stars:

Raymond Rouleau, Micheline Presle, Jean Chevrier

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Raymond Rouleau	...	Philippe Clarence
Micheline Presle	...	Micheline Lafaurie
Jean Chevrier	...	Daniel Rousseau
Gabrielle Dorziat	...	Solange
Jeanne Fusier-Gir	...	Paulette
Françoise Lugagne	...	Anne-Marie
Christiane Barry	...	Lucienne
Rosine Luguet	...	Cousin
Yolande Bloin
Eveline Volney	...	Employee
Maria Carld
François Joux	...	Murier
Georges Roullet
Marc Doelnitz	...	Cousin

Storyline

A philandering young dress designer plays fast and loose with the hearts of all the fair maidens he encounters, and leaves them in a Paris lurch. But when he meets the fiancée of his best friend, he falls deeply and truly in love with her. The girl is soon faced with two choices; marry the reliable fiancée whom she doesn't love, or run off with the dress designer with whom she is infatuated. She sees that she also has a third option and makes the wise choice...she rejects both. The dress designer is not too well equipped for accepting rejection, and he makes a bad decision.

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Plot Keywords:

dressmaker | fashion | seduction | suicide | melodrama | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

24 November 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Paris Frills

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Essor Cinématographique Français, André H. des Fontaines

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Les falbalas de Jean-Paul Gaultier (2004)

User Reviews

Once out in the sticks,now in the chic world of fashion.

"Falbalas" in Becker's career,is the follow-up to "Goupi Mains-Rouges". The second one took place in a very peasant milieu,the former introduces Philippe,a Parisian top designer,as well as a heartbreaker.(Raymond Rouleau who would direct "les sorcières de Salem",from Arthur Miller with Yves Montand and Simone Signoret)The two works could not be more different,and it's hard to believe they were made by the same director.

So the Don Juan falls in love with his friend Daniel's Micheline (Micheline Presles) and seduces her.But she will discover how selfish and frivolous he is and she will leave him.He realizes that he did love her deeply and it's too late.

Here lies the connection between "Falbalas" and "Goupi mains rouges".Philippe becomes mad ,dances with a dummy dressed up as a bride.This recalls Goupi-Tonkin,one character of the precedent work,but it's not as convincing:Philippe's lunacy appears too abruptly,in a totally unexpected way,whereas Goupi-Tonkin's one grows little by little to a stunning and logical final.

Thanks to the two leads,"Falbalas " is nevertheless a commendable work. The best is the documentary side,the depiction of the fashion world.And even if the ending seems unlikely,Becker has such a fine way of filming it!