For reasons largely involving elitism, snobbery and a deeply-rooted belief amongst academics that Craftsmanship, Accessibility and Entertainment are negative qualities plus a childlike faith that New equals Better the name of Roger Richebe has been unjustly neglected. On the other hand the ordinary film fan who wouldn't know a diegesis from a mimetic if one or both walked up and bit him in the ass but does know what he likes has no quarrel with the professionalism of Richebe and actually responds favourably to Richebe's movies when and if given the chance. By 1941 Arletty had appeared in some 32 movies most of which - Fric Frac, La Chaleur du sein - were immensely popular and two of which - Hotel du Nord, Le Jour se leve - were undisputed classics so presumably she had sufficient clout to reject a director she thought incompetent and select one for whom she had respect so the fact that Roger Richebe was on bullhorn for Madame Sans-Gene speaks volumes. Dating back to the turn of the century Victorien Sardou's warhorse is a play which continues to fascinate French actresses well into the 21st century being in some ways a French equivalent of A Streetcar Named Desire inasmuch as its leading role is seen as a yardstick to distinguish actresses from stars. As someone once might have said Cometh The Role, Cometh The Actress and here Arletty and Catherine are one. Richebe masterfully runs the directorial gamut from excellent crowd scenes - including a walk through a crowded street that would be echoed by Arletty/Garance four years later in Les Enfants du Paradis - sumptuous balls, to small intimate scenes with no more than two actors and for good measure throws in a lyrical carriage ride in the Bois. In other films Arletty had sometimes appeared austere and stiffly formal but here Richebe allows his camera to caress her face like a lover and coax forth all her warmth, charm and humour indeed had it not already been used two years earlier in connection with Garbo this film could have been sold with the tag: Arletty Laughs. For any Arletty fan this represents not so much a feat as a banquet to be initially devoured and then savoured.
Review of Madame Sans-Gêne
