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

Director:

Jacques Demy

Writer:

Jacques Demy (scenario and dialogue)

Release Date:

16 December 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Love | Aunt | Military Service | Mechanic | Umbrella

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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
Danielle Licari	...	Geneviève Emery (singing voice) (as D. Licari)
José Bartel	...	Guy Foucher (singing voice) (as J. Bartel)
Christiane Legrand	...	Madame Emery (singing voice) (as C. Legrand)
Georges Blaness	...	Roland Cassard (singing voice) (as G. Blanes)
Claudine Meunier	...	Madeleine (singing voice) (as C. Meunier)
Claire Leclerc	...	Tante Élise (singing voice) (as C. Leclerc)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Bricard	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Jacques Camelinat	...	Garage Customer in 1959 (uncredited)
François Charet	...	Mechanic in 1959 (uncredited)
Jean-Pierre Chizat	...	Pierre - Mechanic (uncredited)
Jacques Demy	...	Le client égaré / Le serveur (singing voice) (uncredited)
Bernard Garnier	...	Mechanic in 1959 (uncredited)
Gisèle Grandpré	...	Madame Germaine (uncredited)
Hervé Legrand	...	François Foucher (uncredited)
Michel Legrand	...	Jean (singing voice) (uncredited)
Myriam Michelson	...	Girl in Cafe (uncredited)
Paul Pavel	...	First Removal Man (uncredited)
Roger Perrinoz	...	Cafe Owner (uncredited)
Rosalie Varda	...	Françoise Cassard (uncredited)

Directed by
Jacques Demy

Writing credits
Jacques Demy		(scenario and dialogue)

Produced by
Mag Bodard	....	producer

Original Music by
Michel Legrand

Cinematography by
Jean Rabier

Film Editing by
Anne-Marie Cotret		(as A.M. Cotret)
Monique Teisseire		(as M. Teisseire)

Production Design by
Bernard Evein

Costume Design by
Jacqueline Moreau		(as J. Moreau)

Makeup Department
Christine Fornelli	....	makeup artist (as C. Fornelli)

Production Management
Philippe Dussart	....	production manager
Maurice Urbain	....	unit manager (as M. Urbain)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
André Flédérick	....	second assistant director (as A. Flederick)
Klaus Müller-Laue	....	assistant director (as K. Muller-Laue)
Jean-Paul Savignac	....	assistant director (as J.P. Savignac)

Art Department
Maurice Bourbotte	....	upholsterer (uncredited)
Joseph Gerhard	....	props (uncredited)
Claude Pignot	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)

Sound Department
François Musy	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (1992 remastered version)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Paul Lemaître	....	camera operator (as J.P. Lemaitre)
Leo Weisse	....	still photographer (as L. Weisse)
Pierre Willemin	....	camera operator (as P. Willemin)
Roger Delattre	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Bernard Largemain	....	key grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Real	....	dresses: Catherine Deneuve
Agnès Soulet	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gisèle Chézeau	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Michel Legrand	....	conductor
Francis Lemarque	....	music publisher

Other crew
Annie Maurel	....	script (as A. Maurel)
Charles Chieusse	....	location manager (uncredited)
Jeanne Marie Olivier	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Parc Film
• Madeleine Films
• Beta Film

Distributors

• Ciné Tamaris (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• Ciné Tamaris (1992) (France) (theatrical) (Dolby remix version)
• Les Films de ma Vie (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Arte Vidéo (201) (France) (DVD)
• Filmtrade (2011) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Landau Releasing Organization (LRO) (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Zeitgeist Films (1996) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (subtitled)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Cult Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Divisa Home Video (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Editora Jornal do Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Koch Lorber Films (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Wellspring Media (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Carita  hair styling

Also Known As:

"Les parapluies de Cherbourg" - France (original title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

France | West Germany

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (restored version) (1992) | Mono

Certification:

Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:Btl | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (re-rating) (1997) | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL (re-rating) (2008) | South Korea:12 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Cherbourg, Manche, France

Company:

Parc Film

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:

Madame Emery:Mr. Cassard came this evening. He was sorry he missed you. I'm sure he could give you some advice.
Geneviève Emery:I can do without his advice.
Madame Emery:You're wrong. For me, he is the kind of man...
Geneviève Emery:Don't bother me with his kind.
Madame Emery:You look terrible.
Geneviève Emery:Leave me alone, Mother.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

If cotton candy were a movie...

A very French, very idiosyncratic musical that while lacking any discernible 'songs' or dance routines manages to be one of the most affecting musicals ever written. Remy says he was inspired by American musicals, and yet a more non-American could hardly be imagined. Can we really pretend that an American studio in 1963 would endorse the story of pre-marital sex and the romance of marrying a 17-year old girl pregnant with another man's child and not feel the need to moralize or condemn? Only in France, and thank God for it. All the cast are brilliant - charming and charismatic; the production design looks like a psychedelic gingerbread house; the score is exceptional; the singing genuinely heart-felt and moving; and the whole thing is carried off with such effortless confidence and unreserved joy that it's impossible not to fall in love with it.