A Certain Smile (1958)

Dominique, a law student at the Sorbonne, is engaged to a fellow classmate. Unfortunately, she's more attracted to his philandering Uncle Luc, who's married to the charming Francoise. Dominique and Luc begin a tawdry affair.

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Frances Goodrich (screenplay), Albert Hackett (screenplay),

Stars:

Rossano Brazzi, Joan Fontaine, Bradford Dillman

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Rossano Brazzi	...	Luc Ferrand
Joan Fontaine	...	Françoise Ferrand
Bradford Dillman	...	Bertrand Griot
Christine Carère	...	Dominique Vallon (as Christine Carere)
Eduard Franz	...	M. Vallon
Katherine Locke	...	Mme. Vallon
Kathryn Givney	...	Mme. Griot
Steven Geray	...	Denis
Johnny Mathis	...	Himself
Trude Wyler	...	Mme. Denis
Sandy Livingston	...	Catherine
Renate Hoy	...	Mlle. Minot
Muzaffer Tema	...	Pierre

Storyline

Dominique, a law student at the Sorbonne, is engaged to a fellow classmate. Unfortunately, she's more attracted to his philandering Uncle Luc, who's married to the charming Francoise. Dominique and Luc begin a tawdry affair.

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Plot Keywords:

foreign language adaptation | french riviera | summer vacation | car accident | night club | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1958 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Ena kapoio hamogelo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first feature film of Bradford Dillman.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2 (1999)

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Soundtracks

"A Certain Smile"
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Sung by Johnny Mathis

User Reviews

Pretty scenery and theme song

It has some beautiful scenery, and a very hummable theme song, but other than that it's not very effective. Director Negulesco did much better with the studio-bound "Best of Everything." One doesn't really care about any of these self-involved people (well, maybe a little for the Joan Fontaine character). Zero chemistry between supposed lovers Brazzi and Carrere. For some much better film adaptations of Francoise Sagan novels, try Bonjour Tristesse and Aimez Vous Brahms (in which Yves Montand plays the same compulsive-womanizer type as Brazzi in "Smile," but somewhat more compellingly). I have to admit that Sagan's characters in general are pretty boring to me.