Le diable au corps (1947)

Director:

Claude Autant-Lara

Writers:

Raymond Radiguet (novel)
Jean Aurenche (writer) ...

Release Date:

9 May 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Plot:

During World War I, the star-crossed affair of an underage French student with a woman engaged to a soldier.

Plot Keywords:

Adulterous Wife | Adultery | WWI | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Micheline Presle	...	Marthe Grangier
Gérard Philipe	...	François Jaubert
Denise Grey	...	Madame Grangier
Jean Debucourt	...	Monsieur Jaubert
Palau	...	Monsieur Marin
Jean Lara	...	Jacques Lacombe (as Jean Varas)
Michel François	...	Rene
Richard Francoeur	...	Maître d'hôtel
Max Maxudian	...	Le maître d'école
Germaine Ledoyen	...	Madame Jaubert
Jeanne Pérez	...	Madame Marin
Jacques Tati	...	Officer
André Bervil	...	Reporter
Edmond Beauchamp	...	Wine steward
Charles Vissière	...	Anselme

Also Known As:

Devil in the Flesh (USA)

Runtime:

110 min | USA:122 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Gare de La Varenne-Chennevières, Val-de-Marne, France

Company:

Transcontinental Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Flic Story (1975)

Has this film emigrated to Jupiter ?

This film would appear to be one of the most elusive in the whole world ? Am I alone in liking it ? I have seen no other comments about it on IMDb or any other site for that matter ! I am indeed beginning to wonder whether the film actually existed or was just a figment of my imagination !!! In its country of origin, France, the work seems to have fallen into total oblivion ? How is this possible for a classic of this nature ? Abroad, no trace of the film, in the English-speaking world at least, it's not even to be found in the Criterion Collection of DVD like several other old French classics ! I saw it and recorded it on the French TV in 1983, 22 years ago, since then not a sign of it anywhere, no issue on VHS or DVD. It's not even possible to find information about it on French DVD sites ! Despite this, I hasten to add that the two main protagonists, Gérard Philipe and Micheline Presle, were two of the finest French actors of their day. I pray that one day it will have its picture and sound restored and be issued on a DVD but for the time being ( Oct 2005 ) no one seems to want to touch it ! This film distills a truly weird atmosphere where parts of the soundtrack are played backwards to indicate flashbacks - the music played during the funeral scenes, sung by a sort of wailing choir, must rank amongst the weirdest and most sinister music I've ever heard in a film. The sheer insignificance of Marthe's death in relation to the overall joy at the Armistice being signed is striking. Gérard Philippe is experiencing internal sadness which is incomprehensible for the rest of the world around him. It appears that the original book by Raymond Radiguet caused quite a scandal at the time perhaps for this reason even today the film cannot be seen in France. Is it available in other countries ? The title theme music by René Cloarec is quite haunting and is available on a CD. The picture and sound quality is very poor, such a shame for such a moving film. Perhaps one day it will be remasterized and edited in VHS or DVD.A remake was made in the late 90's but is not a patch on the original. The film starts with an aeroplane overflying Eastern Paris and several well known buildings such as the Gare de Lyon are instantly recognizeable ! Most of the action, the situation of the school and the boat trip takes place at Nogent-sur-Marne, a few miles east of Paris in the guinguette country.