The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
"Les parapluies de Cherbourg" (original title)

An umbrella shop girl is separated from her mechanic boyfriend when he is called for military service. Alone, she faces a life altering decision.

Director:

Jacques Demy

Writer:

Jacques Demy (scenario and dialogue)

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine Deneuve	...	Geneviève Emery
Nino Castelnuovo	...	Guy Foucher
Anne Vernon	...	Madame Emery
Marc Michel	...	Roland Cassard
Ellen Farner	...	Madeleine
Mireille Perrey	...	Tante Élise
Jean Champion	...	Aubin (as J. Champion)
Pierre Caden	...	Bernard (as P. Caden)
Jean-Pierre Dorat	...	Jean (as J.P. Dorat)
Bernard Fradet	...	Gas Station Apprentice (as B. Fradet)
Michel Benoist	...	Umbrella Buyer (as M. Benoist)
Philippe Dumat	...	Garage Customer in 1957 (as P. Dumat)
Dorothée Blanck	...	Girl in Cafe (as D. Blank)
Jane Carat	...	Ginny (as J. Carat)
Harald Wolff	...	Monsieur Dubourg

Storyline

Geneviève, 17, lives with her widowed mother, who owns an umbrella shop in Cherbourg. She and Guy, a twenty-year-old auto mechanic, are secretly in love and want to marry, but when she reveals this to her mother, her mother objects on the grounds that Geneviève is too young and Guy is not mature or well-established enough, particularly since he has not yet done his required military service. Shortly after this, Guy is drafted to serve in the war in Algeria. Before he leaves, he and Geneviève consummate their love for each other, which results in her becoming pregnant. While Guy is away they drift apart, and Geneviève, strongly encouraged by her mother, accepts a marriage proposal from a well-to-do gem dealer named Roland Cassard, who has fallen in love with her at first sight and has promised to bring up her child as his own. (The character of Cassard is continued from Demy's earlier film Lola.) Guy is wounded and is discharged before his two-year term is up, but when he returns to ...

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Plot Keywords:

love | aunt | military service | mechanic | umbrella | 

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Taglines:

FOR ALL THE YOUNG LOVERS OF THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD...

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Details

Country:

France West Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

16 December 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Filming Locations:

Cherbourg, Manche, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$18,425 (USA) (13 February 2004)

Gross:

$18,425 (USA) (13 February 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Parc Film, Madeleine Films, Beta Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (restored version) (1992) Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the beginning, a black car rolls into the garage where Guy works, and Guy is asked to assist with the car's problems. This car is actually Roland Cassard's and it can be seen two more times: when Roland visits the umbrella shop to give Ms. Emery the money for her pearl necklace, and again as the wedding car. The license plate is the same and can be seen in this latter scene and in the very first.

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Quotes

Geneviève Emery: Guy, I love you. You smell of gasoline.
Guy Foucher: It's just another perfume.
Geneviève Emery: Oh, Guy, I love you. A customer - I must run. I'll see you in front of the theater at eight.

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Connections

Referenced in Mad Men: The Good News (2010)

User Reviews

Most unfortunate if you can't bear singing in movies.

1. Coloring, that is absolutely matchless 2. Even the first notes of the main theme make you cry 3. Unique way of singing in a musical 4. One of the most touching love stories 5. Beautiful Catherine Deneuve 6. It's not American 7. Made in the sixties 8. You can watch it over and over again 9. Since you've once seen it.. you must watch it over and over again 10. Esso-scene

Ten more or less good reasons why this just might be the one.. the favorite movie of mine. I partly understand people who hate it, the singing is the main reason i think. But the unique way of singing! Not in the traditional way this is a musical, people just happen to sing when they talk. And the music (especially main theme) is so hauntingly beautiful it really does make you want to cry when you hear the first notes.

The coloring is like in no other film. The clothing and background have been matched in every single scene of the movie. That's real cinema, that's beautiful! And if that's beautiful already, then what comes when the 20-year old Catherine Deneuve is in the lead role! Just WOW!

Once again I don't bother explaining any of the plot, because there's no point really...but one of the saddest scenes in movie history, is the Esso-scene in this one. Watch it! if you're not too busy watching the latest Van-Damme.