Les belles de nuit (1952)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

René Clair

Writers:

René Clair (scenario)
René Clair (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

April 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Music | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

A young composer has vivid dreams of the past that reflect, yet conflict with his waking life.

Plot Keywords:

Dream | Composer | Adventurer | Harem | Historical Fiction

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Gérard Philipe	...	Claude
Martine Carol	...	Edmee
Gina Lollobrigida	...	La caissière du Grand Café / Leila
Magali Vendeuil	...	Suzanne
Marilyn Buferd	...	La postière / Madame Bonacieux (as Marylin Bufferd)
Raymond Bussières	...	Roger
Raymond Cordy	...	Suzanne's father Gaston / Marquis
Bernard La Jarrige	...	Léon, le gendarme / Leon the gendarme (as Bernard Lajarrige)
Albert Michel	...	Le facteur / Postman
Palau	...	The Old Gentleman
Jean Parédès	...	Paul the pharmacist
Paolo Stoppa	...	Opera director

Also Known As:

Beauties of the Night (USA)
Le belle della notte (Italy)
Night Beauties

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Studios de Boulogne-Billancourt/SFP - 2 rue de Silly, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company:

Franco London Films

Movie Connections:

Featured in Les cent et une nuits de Simon Cinéma (1995)

A sweet piece of nostalgia

This film is highly recommended for those people who have an appreciation of an elusive quality called charm. Charm is in short supply in today's cinema be it French, American or other. Charm is difficult to define, but you know it when you see it. The daydreams of a young composer may seem like a frivolous topic, but an actor of the caliber of Gérard Philipe make it all seem so worthwhile. The essence of the story, for me anyway, is the collision between dream and reality - our hero is constantly reminded of how ordinary life is, how unsatisfying compared to his luscious fantasies. He is constantly brought crashing down to earth. But these scenes are precisely the funniest ones. I recall especially the scene in the classroom where the kids mock him to death - how humiliating, but still it's hilarious.

Gérard Philipe said that the director René Clair left nothing to chance. Every tiny detail, every nuance was carefully thought out in advance. The greatest problem for René Clair was that of rhythm. Apparently they were always trying to shorten certain scenes by a few seconds in order to heighten the comic effect.

One of the greatest of all directors and an actor of unquestioned skill, conscientiousness and charm collaborate on an effort that reminds us of what French culture used to be. It may seem dated or even corny to some, but I hope that for others it serves as an image of cultural values that will not be seen again.