Désiré (1937)

Director:

Sacha Guitry

Writer:

Sacha Guitry (play)

Release Date:

3 December 1937 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Shavian social satire. Odette is an actress who's now the mistress of a government minister. Her household of cook...

Plot Keywords:

Minister | Dream | Maid | Servant | Valet

Cast

Sacha Guitry	...	Désiré, valet de chambre
Jacqueline Delubac	...	Odette Cléry
Jacques Baumer	...	Felix Montignac
Saturnin Fabre	...	Adrien
Alys Delonce	...	Femme d'Adrien
Arletty	...	Madeleine, la femme de chambre
Pauline Carton	...	Adèle, la cuisinière
Geneviève Vix	...	La comtesse

Directed by
Sacha Guitry

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sacha Guitry		play

Produced by
Serge Sandberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Adolphe Borchard

Cinematography by
Jean Bachelet

Film Editing by
Myriam Borsoutsky		(as Myriam)

Production Design by
Jean Perrier

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gilles Grangier	....	assistant director
Guy Lacourt	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Norbert Gernolle	....	sound

Other crew
Jeanne Étiévant	....	script girl

Production Companies

• Cinéas (as Une Production Serge Sandberg)

Distributors

• Films Sonores Tobis (1937) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Films Sonores Tobis)
• Orbis-Filmverleih (1938) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Studiocanal Vidéo (1993) (France) (VHS) (as Canal+ Vidéo)
• Gaumont DVD (2007) (France) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Studios François Ier  studio
• Western Electric  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Runtime:

France:92 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Company:

Cinéas

Movie Connections:

Remade as Désiré (1996)

One of the best of Guitry's filmed plays

In "Désiré," Guitry gives himself a quite out-of-the-ordinary vehicle. Frankly, I had become rather tired of his usual pater familias-type character, and it is refreshing to see him in the role of a servant -- a wise, extremely sophisticated valet de chambre, but a servant nonetheless. Oddly, this film somewhat calls to mind Genet's "The Maids," in plot and even, strangely enough, a bit in tone (though it's very funny, funnier even than the usual Guitry comedy). Altogether a very unusual Guitry! Jacqueline Delubac is her usual charming self, Pauline Carton (the French Thelma Ritter, one could say) is as always excellent, and Arletty is seen in her only principal role in a Guitry film (though she is also seen in cameos -- one very wild! -- in two other Guitrys). Also excellent in a small but difficult role is Saturnin Fabre. One is hardly conscious that this is "filmed theater." Yes, there is a lot of talk, but the film-making is swift, sophisticated and inventive. Very enjoyable.