The Good Time Girls (1960)
"Les bonnes femmes" (original title)

Four Parisian women navigate the world of romance and daily life looking to fulfill their dreams but often find real-life to be inescapable.

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Paul Gégauff (scenario and dialogue), Claude Chabrol (adaptation)

Stars:

Bernadette Lafont, Clotilde Joano, Stéphane Audran

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bernadette Lafont	...	Jane
Clotilde Joano	...	Jacqueline
Stéphane Audran	...	Ginette
Lucile Saint-Simon	...	Rita
Pierre Bertin	...	Monsieur Belin
Jean-Louis Maury	...	Marcel
Albert Dinan	...	Albert
Ave Ninchi	...	Mme Louise
Sacha Briquet	...	Henri
Claude Berri	...	Le copain de Jane
Jean Barclay
Rossana Rossanigo
Dolly Bell	...	La danseuse nue
Gabriel Gobin	...	Le père d'Henri (as Gabriel Gobain)
France Asselin	...	La mère d'Henri

Storyline

Ginette, Rita, Jacqueline and Jane try to find fulfillment and love in their lives. Rita has a fiancé whose family is obsessed with social distinction; Jane has a boy-friend in the army, but does not hesitate to enjoy herself with chance encounters; Ginette has a mysterious passion that keeps her away from her colleagues at nights. Jacqueline is lonely; but who is that mysterious bike-rider who is constantly following her ?

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Plot Keywords:

love | nouvelle vague | one night stand | dead woman on ground | tiger | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French Italian

Release Date:

22 April 1960 (France)

Also Known As:

The Good Time Girls

Filming Locations:

72 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris 11, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$6,578 (USA) (13 August 1999)

Gross:

$6,578 (USA) (13 August 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paris Film, Panitalia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Caused so much resentment among the public upon its release that some went as far as breaking seats in theaters as sign of protest.

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Connections

References Les Cousins (1959)

User Reviews

One of a kind

A friend of mine - a film scholar - once said that this film shouldn't work but it does. He was absolutely right. I cannot think of one good reason why this film should be as good as it is. The tone is observational, like many films of the "New Wave," but it lacks the frenetic energy of Godard, or the jaded lyricism of Truffaut. The tone of the film changes drastically at several points, and in any other film this would become a big turn off. But a strand of sincere honesty about the characters and their emotions holds the film together, stronger than any formality.

Let the film take you where it wants you to go, and the experience is wonderful.