Model Shop (1969)

Director:

Jacques Demy

Writers:

Jacques Demy (writer)
Carole Eastman (english dialogue)

Release Date:

1 April 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Maybe Tomorrow. Maybe Never. Maybe.

Plot:

George Matthews is a young man who is having a bittersweet affair with a French divorcée in Los Angeles...

Plot Keywords:

Model | Architect | Infidelity | Repossession | Sequel

Cast

Anouk Aimée	...	Lola aka Cecile
Gary Lockwood	...	George Matthews
Alexandra Hay	...	Gloria
Carol Cole	...	Barbara
Tom Holland	...	Gerry (as Tom Fielding)
Severn Darden	...	Portly Man
Neil Elliot	...	Fred
Jacqueline Mille	...	Model No. 1
Duke Hobbie	...	David
Anne Randall	...	Model No. 2
Craig Littler	...	Rob
Hilary Thompson	...	Girl Hippie
Jon Lawson	...	Tony
Jean Sorel	...	Secretary
Jon Hill
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jay Ferguson	...	Jay (uncredited)
David Mink	...	Bearded Hippie (uncredited)
Ken Prymus	...	Short-Order Cook (uncredited)
Mildred Shay	...	(uncredited)
Fred Willard	...	Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

Directed by
Jacques Demy

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jacques Demy		writer
Carole Eastman		english dialogue

Produced by
Jacques Demy	....	producer

Original Music by
Spirit

Cinematography by
Michel Hugo

Film Editing by
Walter Thompson

Production Design by
Kenneth A. Reid

Set Decoration by
Antony Mondello

Costume Design by
Gene Ashman
Rita Riggs

Makeup Department
Ben Lane	....	makeup supervisor
Carrie White	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John M. Poer	....	dga trainee
Herb Willis	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Les Fresholtz	....	sound
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound
Charles J. Rice	....	sound supervisor

Music Department
Ralph James Hall	....	music editor (as Ralph Hall)
Marty Paich	....	conductor

Other crew
Shirley Ulmer	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

95 min (TCM Print)

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:M

Filming Locations:

Dockweiler Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Anouk Aimee played a character named Lola in both this and Demy's first film, Lola.

Quotes:

Lola aka Cecile:[Lola is modeling for George, whose photo session is just about over] You have only one left. If you want me to do anything...
George Matthews:I like what I've got.
Lola aka Cecile:You don't seem particularly interested in photography.
George Matthews:I'm not. I'm more interested in you. Besides, I don't think the guys who come here give a damn for the art of photography, do they?
Lola aka Cecile:I don't judge the customers. It's not my concern.
George Matthews:It's kind of degrading work, isn't it? Why do you do it?
Lola aka Cecile:To make my living... But I don't like this word, "degrading." After all, I don't know what YOU do, to make your living.
Lola aka Cecile:Me? Nothing, right now.
Lola aka Cecile:[laughs somewhat mockingly] Then you don't run the risk of degrading yourself by working.
George Matthews:You're French.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

French New Wave Filmmaker's look at 60's L.A.

It's always interesting to see a foriegner's view of America (i.e. Antonioni's ZABRISKE POINT, Malle's ATLANTIC CITY), and here, French director Demy's look at 60's L.A.. Looking back in hindsight, it's easy to pick out the details and even cliches that Demy found so fascinating (fashion, car culture, seemingly endless stretches of buildings & lights, psychedelic music (SPIRIT), drugs, underground newspapers, counterculture ideals and, inevitably, the Vietnam War).

The nominal plot is more just a day in the life (almost exactly 24 hours) of a layabout disaffected wannabe architect (Lockwood) who is in a loveless relationship with a pretty but insubstantial young thing (Hay), who meets a mysterious French woman (Aimee). Not much "happens", but the themes and details enumerated above all weave their way into this portrait of a "day in the life."

Unfortunately, Demy selected the dull Lockwood as his lead (it strains credulity to really believe he is a talented architect). Lockwood's lack of charisma is what reportedly led Stanley Kubrick to cast him as the dull uncharismatic astronaut in 2001 (you know the old joke, the most "human" of the characters in 2001 was HAL!). Aimee, despite her French hauteur and ennui, brings the only life to the acting (the less said about Hay the better).

In sum, a tiny slice of life in late 60's L.A.. Not grand, but of some note.

Technical note. The American Cinemateque debuted a striking NEW 35MM print over the July 4th Weekend. Perhaps, this will signal a few Revival House and Film Festival Screenings, as well as a first-time on Video/DVD debut.