French Dressing (1964)

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Peter Brett (screenplay), Ronald Cass (original screenplay),

Stars:

James Booth, Roy Kinnear, Marisa Mell

Cast

Credited cast:
James Booth	...	Jim Stephens
Roy Kinnear	...	Henry Liggott
Marisa Mell	...	Françoise Fayol
Alita Naughton	...	Judy
Bryan Pringle	...	The Mayor
Robert Robinson	...	Himself
Germaine Delbat	...	French woman
Norman Pitt	...	Westbourne Mayor
Henry McCarty	...	Bridgemouth Mayor
Sandor Elès	...	Vladek
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lucille Soong	...	Starlet

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1964 (UK)

Also Known As:

Abbigliamento francese

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Kenneth Harper Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is a missing scene between where Françoise agrees to join Jim and Henry at their place. This was Ken Russell's favorite scene in the entire movie but it was dropped by the producers, hence the unexplained cut between France and the pier of Gormleigh.

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Connections

Featured in Georges Delerue (1995)

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Soundtracks

"Turtle Dove"
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

French Dressing is not cinematic salad

This has always been a weakness of mine: one of Ken Russell's earliest made-for-cinema efforts after a prestigious early career in TV documentaries. It stars one of my favourite minor British actors, James Booth, who went on to appear so memorably in 'Zulu' the year after, the late Roy Kinnear as a corpulent side kick, as well as the irreplaceable Bryan Pringle, as the corruptible and egoistical Mayor. The weaknesses, and charm, can be put down to its time and some of Russell's own uncertainties on a larger canvas: EG the awkward apeing of some Nouvelle Vague mannerisms for outside shots, and the varying tone - psrtly due to Russell's attempts to reconcile so many disparate elements. But to offset that, his surreal vision of a small English sea-side resort (Herne Bay), seeking to raise its cultural and tourist profile was (and remains) delightful to anyone who was familiar with the run down, determinedly unsexy reality at the time. Its a film a long way from the later Russell's variable excesses and, although sometimes awkward, is never heavy handed. He works well in black and white, maintaining a narrative interest and drive which only falters at the end, even if wide boy Booth is unable to project the warmth and passion his character's infatuation ultimately needs. This is one of those rare British films in which the imported continental talent - in this case, Marissa Mell (who plays 'Francoise Fayol', clearly modelled on Bardot) 'works' as a character - her exotic sexuality, so out of place in drab Gormley-on-Sea, is the point of a film that pointedly contrasts expectations, then results, throughout. And, as a view of small town municipal life, 'French Dressing' would bear some closer investigation by British critics than it has hitherto received. It's good too to see a falling out of opinions on IMDb's hallowed pages about this film - a sure sign that it is alive and kicking...