Edith and Marcel (1983)
"Édith et Marcel" (original title)

The world's most popular entertainer and Europe's greatest boxer: the film puts the love affair of these two national heroes against a backdrop of the end of World War II, hotel suites in ... See full summary »

Director:

Claude Lelouch

Writers:

Claude Lelouch, Pierre Uytterhoeven,

Stars:

Evelyne Bouix, Jacques Villeret, Francis Huster

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Evelyne Bouix	...	Edith Piaf / Margot de Villedieu
Jacques Villeret	...	Jacques Barbier
Francis Huster	...	Francis Roman
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Loulou Barrier
Marcel Cerdan Jr.	...	Marcel Cerdan
Jean Bouise	...	Lucien Roupp
Charles Gérard	...	Charlot
Charlotte de Turckheim	...	Ginou
Micky Sébastian	...	Marinette Cerdan
Maurice Garrel	...	Margot's Father
Ginette Garcin	...	Guite
Philippe Khorsand	...	Jo Longman
Jany Gastaldi	...	Momone
Candice Patou	...	Margot's Sister
Tanya Lopert	...	English Teacher

Storyline

The world's most popular entertainer and Europe's greatest boxer: the film puts the love affair of these two national heroes against a backdrop of the end of World War II, hotel suites in New York, transatlantic plane flights, Cerdan's loss of the world middleweight title to Jake Lamotta, and Piaf's gift for tragic love songs.

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Plot Keywords:

human relationship

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

13 April 1983 (France)

Also Known As:

Edith and Marcel

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films 13, Parafrance Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dedicated to Patrick Dewaere, who committed suicide in the beginning of the shooting. He was replaced by 'Marcel Cerdan Jr'. who plays the role of his own father, the boxer Marcel Cerdan.

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Soundtracks

"Comme moi"
Written by Claude Delecluze, Michèle Senlis and Marguerite Monnot
Performed by Édith Piaf

User Reviews

If I had the choice between two of the Piaf films

Inevitably having seen 'La vie en rose' I will want to draw conclusions between these two films. 'La vie en rose' is a film that's nicely packaged. It resembles most bio-pics with just slight deviations from the formula which are milady interesting. As a film it faithfully uses common techniques whilst adhering to a strict sense of reality.

Now for Marcel and Edith. Like another reviewer pointed out this film is an invitation into a different world. The camera twists spins pans and hovers through this world. Edith moves away from the microphone singing yet we still hear her voice. Lelouch interposes a second story unrelated to Ediths life. Lelouch exchanges strict adherence to reality for a dream like flow. This could be interpreted by less open-minded people as amateurish filming, as I can see it has by another reviewer who unfailing pointed out the boxing scenes as I knew some fool would.

Let's not forget we are watching the 7th art here. We have the choice between a faithful somewhat lifeless bio-pic or a film that explores the boundaries of film as an art form. I think the latter was more rewarding.

There is one scene almost identical in both films, when Marcel & Edith have their first date and eat pastrami. Lelouch's interpretation is the one full of charm the other well, it's charmless.