Olivia (1951)

Olivia, an English teenager, arrives at a finishing school in France. The majority of the pupils in the school are divided into two camps: those that are devoted to the headmistress, Mlle Julie and those who follow Mlle Cara.

Director:

Jacqueline Audry

Writers:

Colette Audry (adaptation), Dorothy Bussy (novel) (as Olivia)

Stars:

Edwige Feuillère, Simone Simon, Marie-Claire Olivia

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edwige Feuillère	...	Mademoiselle Julie
Simone Simon	...	Mademoiselle Cara
Marie-Claire Olivia	...	Olivia Dealey (as Claire Olivia)
Yvonne de Bray	...	Victoire - la cuisinière
Suzanne Dehelly	...	Mademoiselle Dubois
Marina de Berg	...	Mimi
Lesly Meynard	...	Frau Riesener
Rina Rhéty	...	Signorina (as Rita Roanda)
Tania Soucault	...	Georgie
Elly Claus	...	Laura (as Elly Overzier)
Nadine Olivier	...	Cécile - la coquette
Sophie Mallet	...	Une élève
Hélène Rémy	...	Une pensionnaire
Michèle Monty	...	Une pensionnaire
Ludmilla Hols	...	Une pensionnaire (as Ludmilia Hols)

Storyline

Olivia, an English teenager, arrives at a finishing school in France. The majority of the pupils in the school are divided into two camps: those that are devoted to the headmistress, Mlle Julie and those who follow Mlle Cara, an emotionally manipulative invalid who is obsessed with Mlle Julie.

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Plot Keywords:

school | f rated | teenage girl | teacher | lesbianism | 

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Taglines:

Sensitive! Unusual and Frank!

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

27 April 1951 (France)

Also Known As:

The Pit of Loneliness

Filming Locations:

Studios de Boulogne, 2 rue de Silly, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,948, 18 August 2019

Gross USA:

$9,934

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,934

Company Credits

Production Co:

Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC), Films du Jeudi, Les, Les Films de la Pléiade

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

French visa # 10590 delivered on 6-4-1951.

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Quotes

Mlle. Julie: Everything will be alright, Olivia. Our God is not as exacting as that of Miss Stock.

User Reviews

Stark times

This film, based on Dorothy Bussy's short novel, appeared on the screens when homosexuality was almost as taboo in the cinema as everywhere else in our so called civilized world. But at least France made it-and by a great female director who understood Sartre's play 'Huis Clos' better than almost any stage director. There is a lesbian character in 'Huis Clos' and arguably the lesbianism is more explicit in Sartre's play than in 'Olivia'. But ... Hell is going down in a lift to Hell? Even Sartre did not think of that incredible detail!

I am giving away no spoilers in this review, only to urge those who can, to see this film. It is set in a girl's school. Although no one could classify Simone Simon straight out of 'La Ronde' as a girl-they are young women. The acting is superb all round, and the images and dialogue perfect.

So why is this film hidden away? Why no DVD and only a long lost VHS tape to be found if you are lucky on Ebay? I have the video and have treasured it for years. And why the dreadful title 'The Pit of Loneliness', except to tempt and to suggest to people that this is all about 'perversion'? Trust America to do that at the height of homophobia back in the early 1950s! England at least released it with the title 'Olivia' but the film soon disappeared, lost in double feature programmes.

Such stark times should be behind us, but for some reason this classic is not deemed worthy of respect. There are no sexual acts in the film. It is an examination of feelings. In 2019 it should no longer be put into the darkest corner of cinema history. Perhaps, after all, these are still stark times.