Manèges (1950)

After having spent all his money to fullfill the smallest wish of his wife Dora, Robert is still madly in love with her. Now, she is at agony, and her mother comes. She will reveal to ... See full summary »

Director:

Yves Allégret

Stars:

Bernard Blier, Simone Signoret, Jacques Baumer

Cast

Cast overview:
Bernard Blier	...	Robert
Simone Signoret	...	Dora
Jacques Baumer	...	Louis
Mona Dol	...	L'infirmière-chef
Laure Diana	...	La cavalière du manège
Fernand Rauzéna	...	Les chefs des 'girls' (as F. Rauzena)
Jean Ozenne	...	Eric
Jean Hébey	...	L'acheteur de chevaux (as Jean Hebey)
Pierre Naugier
Alain Debrus
Gabriel Gobin	...	Émile
Max Monroy	...	(as Monroy)
Jane Marken	...	La mère de Dora
Franck Villard	...	François (as Frank Villard)

Storyline

After having spent all his money to fullfill the smallest wish of his wife Dora, Robert is still madly in love with her. Now, she is at agony, and her mother comes. She will reveal to Robert how he has been fooled. Through some flashbacks, we will see the story through Robert's or his mother-in-law's eyes. A very misogynous movie...

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

25 January 1950 (France)

Also Known As:

The Cheat

Company Credits

Production Co:

DisCina, Les Films Modernes (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

After her birthday party, Dora leaves the flat with her fur coat on, two seconds later she is seen putting it on as she gets down the stairs.

User Reviews

Absolute film noir.

The substantive "Manèges" in French has three meanings:a merry-go-round,a ring(where you practice horse-riding),and ploys.The last two meanings can be applied to Allégret's movie.It does take place in a ring and hateful people are making ploys . Bernard Blier owns the ring,he's a naïve meek man,not the handsome guy women can dream of.Enter Simone Signoret -in one of her most satanic parts-:abetted by a mother (played by a remarkable Jeanne Marken)she marries the poor lad,who believes she loves him,and then the plot will become as ruthless as it can be. Signoret's portrayal is extraordinary,and easily matches her sensational roles in "les diaboliques" or "Room at the top":emptying her hubby's pockets ,lying lazily on her bed ,horse-riding in the woods,stalking rich preys among chic clients of the "manège"(because Blier is only a stage on her way to social elevation),or laughing at Blier behind his back,with her mother's strident chuckles which come back as a sinister leitmotiv.She does not realize she remains a rather vulgar woman,and the posh people she sees in her husband's ring cannot be fooled."Your perfume will always be horse-manure!",the stable -lad,her lover,tells her. Signoret's mother (Marken) is an evildoer to a fault:she acts with her daughter as a madam .Her charms must provide her with money and respectability. The movie is masterfully constructed,using flashbacks,now Blier's memories,now Marken's ones.The ending is so black that the viewer ,after this "horse-manure" atmosphere,needs a breath of fresh air.Film noir buffs,do not miss this gem!