La cage aux rossignols (1945)

Director:

Jean Dréville

Writers:

Georges Chaperot (story), Noël-Noël (adaptation),

Stars:

Noël-Noël, Micheline Francey, Georges Biscot

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noël-Noël	...	Clément Mathieu
Micheline Francey	...	Micheline
Georges Biscot	...	Raymond
René Génin	...	Le père Maxence
René Blancard	...	Monsieur Rachin
Marguerite Ducouret	...	La mère de Micheline
Marcelle Praince	...	La présidente
Marthe Mellot	...	Marie
Georges Paulais	...	Monsieur Langlois
André Nicolle	...	Monsieur de la Frade
Richard Francoeur	...	Monsieur de Mézères
Jean Morel	...	Le directeur
Roger Vincent	...	L'académicien
Michel François	...	Laquerec
Roger Krebs	...	Laugier

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

actor shares first name with character

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

6 September 1945 (France)

Also Known As:

A Cage of Nightingales

Company Credits

Production Co:

Société Nouvelle des Établissements Gaumont (SNEG)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remade as The Chorus (2004)

User Reviews

The supervisor does not work wonders,neither does the film.

This movie features a bunch of children locked up in a reform school under a nasty headmaster's thumb;then comes a very nice human supervisor played by Noël-Noël .And presto ,the naughty brats become angels with golden voices who set up a choir ,and the distinguished old ladies who visit the school are on cloud nine ,well,you get the picture.

First thing to bear in mind is that these children were professional singers:all of them were part of "les petits chanteurs à la croix de bois" (the little singers with the wooden cross),so do not be fooled,the supervisor is not in any way responsible for their prowesses. Well the plot is not unlike "going my way" ,except that the main actor is not a singer like Bing Crosby.This mushy weepie ,which seems sometimes unbearable -but not more than,say,"dead poets society"-,is typical Occupation cinema ,the likes of "le voile bleu".It's a return to good old morality:individuality is condemned,everyone must be part of the group,the choir becoming a transparent metaphor .The ending in the church is almost sirkesque.

Remade (or almost) as "les choristes"