The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947)

Writer Georges Duroy (George Sanders) is one social-climbing S.O.B. who does most of his climbing over the warm (and cold) bodies of women. He begins with Rachel (Marie Wilson), a hanger-on... See full summary »

Director:

Albert Lewin

Writer:

Albert Lewin (screenplay)

Stars:

George Sanders, Angela Lansbury, Ann Dvorak

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Sanders	...	Georges Duroy
Angela Lansbury	...	Clotilde de Marelle
Ann Dvorak	...	Claire Madeleine Forestier
John Carradine	...	Charles Forestier
Susan Douglas Rubes	...	Suzanne Walter (as Susan Douglas)
Hugo Haas	...	Monsieur Walter
Warren William	...	Laroche-Mathieu
Frances Dee	...	Marie de Varenne
Albert Bassermann	...	Jacques Rival
Marie Wilson	...	Rachel Michot
Katherine Emery	...	Madame Walter
Richard Fraser	...	Philippe de Cantel
John Good	...	Paul de Cazolles
David Bond	...	Norbert de Varenne
Leonard Mudie	...	Potin

Storyline

Writer Georges Duroy (George Sanders) is one social-climbing S.O.B. who does most of his climbing over the warm (and cold) bodies of women. He begins with Rachel (Marie Wilson), a hanger-on in the cafés and Folies Bergere crowd, and then moves on to dally with Clotilde de Morelle (Dame Angela Lansbury). Always striving to move upward on the social scale, he ditches her to marry Madeleine Forestier (Ann Dvorak). Now he gets on the fast track. He persuades Madame Walter (Katherine Emery), the wife of his publisher, to fall in love with him, and then compromises Madeleine to frame a divorce, so he can pursue Madame Walter's daughter, Suzanne (Susan Douglas Rubes). He moves along so well that ere long he is in legal position to usurp the title of one of France's most noble houses. The moral, at the end, is it is okay to mess with French women, but triffling with French titles is going too far.

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Plot Keywords:

love | profiteer | upper class | letter | shaving | 

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Taglines:

WOMEN GROVELED AT HIS FEET... and whimpered when he paused to give them a smile!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the 1953 re-release titled "Women of Paris", tenth-billed Marie Wilson was given first billing in order to capitalize on her television success in My Friend Irma (1952).

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Goofs

At 9', a piano player and a violin player are doing a number. We hear a vibrato on the violin, but the left fingers of the player are not moving at all.

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Quotes

Georges Duroy: [dying] I have been scratched by an old cat.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: "This is the history of a scoundrel. The time is 1880 and the place is Paris."

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Connections

Version of Bel Ami (1955)

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Soundtracks

The Ruins of Athens
(uncredited)
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven

User Reviews

old photo

an adaptation. and a great cast. perfect choice for Georges Duroy character. a subtle, precise, impressive George Sanders in one of his magnificent roles. so, the key is not manner to adapted the novel of Maupassant but the art of each actor. because this movie is scene for a lot of stars. the story is old but the play is new. the novel is French and the science of details and nuances makes this American movie fruit of French cinema. the tale of Bel Ami is, in great measure, grace of Sanders and his partners, slice of Dorian Gray. it is not a masterpiece but it is a very interesting lesson. to define a world, to discover a book, to escape from Nick Ormerod last adaptation spell. a film as old yellow picture. good beginning to visit a world, to joy with drops of old fashion cinema style, to rediscover few crust of emotions and reflection to our small and bleak world.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Women of Paris

Filming Locations:

California Studios - 5530 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David L. Loew-Albert Lewin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1