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 ...

---

Plot Keywords:

love | aunt | military service | mechanic | umbrella | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

---

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

Roland tells Genevieve's mother he once loved a woman named "Lola." "Lola" is a Demy film from 1961, in which Marc Michel plays the same character of Roland.

---

Quotes

Roland Cassard: I've just seen Miss Genevieve. I would have liked...
Madame Emery: She's gone out. The life we lead here is so sad for a young girl. This dreary shop. She's bored, and I fear she'll become depressed. Would you like some tea?
Roland Cassard: With pleasure.
Madame Emery: We've just had a terrible fight about you.
Roland Cassard: About me?
Madame Emery: She wanted to go out, but I didn't want her to. We had a row. We've been so lonely since my husband died.

---

Connections

Referenced in Les larmes (2010)

User Reviews

Just simply the most beautiful romantic film ever made

In 1957 France a 17 year old shop girl (Catherine Deneuve) is in love with a gas station worker (Nino Castelnuovo). Her mother is totally against the romance. He's called off to serve in the war for two years. They must part but have sex before he leaves. Then she discovers she's pregnant...

Sounds terrible but it isn't. All the dialogue is sung and the film is done in just breathtaking color--all the sets are decorated to take advantage of this. The colors just leap out at you and some of the scenes are unbelievably beautiful. The musical score is haunting and Deneuve (who became known by this film) and Castelnuovo make a very attractive, sympathetic couple.

The film is just gorgeous--I can't stress enough how beautiful it is and the music (especially the title theme) is so moving. It all leads up to a finale that has me crying every single time I see it. It IS a happy ending (sort of) but the emotions of the two characters really tear you apart.

The acting is good, the film moves quickly (90 minutes) and--quite simply--this is one of the best foreign films ever made. It's not for everybody but if you're a romantic (like me) you'll love it. But be warned--have PLENTY of tissue handy for the end. I've seen it four times and I STILL cry at the end! A definite must see. A 10+.