I'm not really qualified to criticize this entry on grounds of accuracy as my knowledge of Hector Berlioz himself, the musical climate in which he was active and the period in general leaves much to be desired but the same, alas, can be said for this film in terms of the grounds on which I do feel more or less qualified to venture an opinion i.e. writing, acting, direction etc. Christian Jaques was more at home in other genres and whilst Jean-Louis Barrault was a fine actor - and would score heavily three years later in Les Enfants du paradis - he seems ill at ease in the main role. Neither Catherine Fonteney, Bernard Blier or Jules Berry are exactly chopped live but even then can do little to rescue this.
Review of La symphonie fantastique
