Carnival in Flanders (1935)

Tells the story of the Spanish invasion of Flanders

Director:

Jacques Feyder

Writers:

Charles Spaak (short story), Bernard Zimmer (dialogue)

Stars:

Françoise Rosay, André Alerme, Jean Murat

5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Françoise Rosay	...	Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre / Madame Burgomaster
André Alerme	...	Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre / The Burgomaster (as Alerme)
Jean Murat	...	Le duc d'Olivarès / The Duke
Louis Jouvet	...	Le chapelain / The Priest
Lyne Clevers	...	La poissonnière / The Fish-Wife (as Lynne Clevers)
Micheline Cheirel	...	Siska
Maryse Wendling	...	La boulangère / The Baker's Wife
Ginette Gaubert	...	L'aubergiste / The Inn-Keeper's Wife
Marguerite Ducouret	...	La femme du brasseur / The Brewer's Wife
Bernard Lancret	...	Julien Breughel
Alfred Adam	...	Josef Van Meulen, le boucher
Pierre Labry	...	L'aubergiste / The Inn-Keeper
Arthur Devère	...	Le poissonnier / The Fishmonger (as Arthur Devere)
Marcel Carpentier	...	Le boulanger / The Baker
Alexander D'Arcy	...	Le capitaine / The Captain (as Alexandre Darcy)

Storyline

When the village of Boom, in Flanders, learns a Spanish Duke and his troops plan to pass the night, the 4-man army deserts and the Mayor plays dead; so the Mayor's wife organizes the townswomen to greet the invaders and preserve the peace with womanly wiles.

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Plot Keywords:

mayor | flanders | invasion | invader | duke | 

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Taglines:

Prize Winning French Film Hit!

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Genres:

Comedy | History | Romance

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Details

Country:

France Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

22 September 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Carnival in Flanders

Filming Locations:

Bruges, West Flanders, Belgium

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films Sonores Tobis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the second non-fiction cinema film to be shown on British television (on 7 October 1938).

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Quotes

Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Women! We've accepted men's domination this long because our mothers did, and their mothers before them. But today's events have opened our eyes. Let us show all Flanders the example of a town that women have saved from ruin and dishonor by their energy, determination, and courage! Enough talk - time for action.

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Connections

Referenced in What Happened to Kerouac? (1986)

User Reviews

Beware of the women!

This just might e the smartest black comedy (that is a matter of opinion ever made) right up there with Reoir's The Rules of the Game. A female empowerment movie, in a way it reminds one of the movie adaptation of "The Women" with bigger ideas on its mind. Made in 1935, and hailed by all critics as one of the greatest movies ever made, a position it would hold through the fifties, it is a deceptive little tale about the cowardice of men and the bravery of women. The last time the French came through, the little town of Flanders was rampaged ad plundered. News comes again that they are coming through, and the men panic, quiver and run for cover. It is the women who think up the plan to save the city As, I said smile, but very funny with the undercurrent of male an female dynamics underlining every line, phrase and action in this treat. To sum it up, it can be said that the old adage, "Behind every great man is a great woman" a perceptive and illuminating proper edifice.