The Earrings of Madame De... (1953)

When an aristocratic woman known only as "Madame de . . ." sells a pair of earrings given to her by her husband in order to pay some debts, she sets off a chain reaction of financial and carnal consequences that can end only in despair.

Director:

Max Ophüls

Writers:

Louise de Vilmorin (novel), Marcel Achard (screenplay)

Stars:

Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Boyer	...	Général André de...
Danielle Darrieux	...	Comtesse Louise de...
Vittorio De Sica	...	Baron Fabrizio Donati
Jean Debucourt	...	Monsieur Rémy
Jean Galland	...	Monsieur de Bernac
Mireille Perrey	...	La Nourrice
Paul Azaïs	...	Le premier cocher
Josselin
Hubert Noël	...	Henri de Maleville
Lia Di Leo	...	Lola

Storyline

In the Paris of the late 19th century, Louise, wife of a general, sells the earrings her husband gave her as a wedding gift: she needs money to cover her debts. The general secretly buys the earrings again and gives them to his mistress, Lola, leaving to go to Constantinople. Where an Italian diplomat, Baron Donati, buys them. Back to Paris, Donati meets Louise... So now Louise discovers love and becomes much less frivolous.

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Plot Keywords:

1890s | title same as book | title appears in writing | female protagonist | death of title character | 

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Taglines:

The most intriguing love story of the year!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

When the general gives the earrings to Lola on the train, she is crying and has her little bag on her lap. In the next cut, the bag is on the table.

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Quotes

Baron Fabrizio Donati: Why are you leaving?
Comtesse Louise de...: Why shouldn't I?
Baron Fabrizio Donati: Where are you going?
Comtesse Louise de...: The Italian lakes.
Baron Fabrizio Donati: Without me?
Comtesse Louise de...: Once I'm there, I'll wonder why I ever left.
Baron Fabrizio Donati: Then, why go?
Comtesse Louise de...: Yes, why?

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Connections

Featured in Histoire(s) du cinéma: Les signes parmi nous (1999)

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Soundtracks

Einmal im Leben ...(L'amour m'emporte)
music: Oscar Straus
lyrics: Robert Gilbert & Armin Robinson

User Reviews

Sublime, Graceful, Charming, Ruthless

It strains the imagination and saddens the heart to wonder at the existence of those people, long past, who would strive for such a sublime accomplishment.

"It's when we've the most to say that we're silent"

The dramatic situations develop so that we feel every word the characters leave unsaid. The situation speaks, and then the characters comment cleverly, explain themselves to their best advantage in that momentary sparkle that is "life"

The relationship of the director to his characters: they are allowed to be witty, to be beautiful, profound, and deeply human, yet in this humanity is their futility, a charming futility. As in the classics, The passions rule all humans. The characters are as puppets, not to the director, but to the passions.

The camera moves, yes, and you may have heard of Ophuls' flowing camera. It is not empty style, but dynamism, concision, and, more importantly, the flow of life that is his moving camera. It is the flowing movement of Ovid's Metamorphoses, the inexorable flow of life. The camera doesn't so much follow the actors, but that the flow of life is happening, and the characters are swimming in that stream of happening.

Why does he persistenly show the characters through a pain of glass? These are the boundaries of social propriety, the confines of their situation. Ophuls knew it best: life is a movie

Vladimir Nabokov wrote a short story entitled "La Veneziana"... Have I strayed from the subject? But, aren't all things sublime closely related?

I have learned, through persistent trial, that '98 is a fine year for Rhone. I suggest that you open a bottle, pour a glass, and push "Play" on "The Earrings Of Madame De..."

"unhappiness is an invented thing"

grace

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French Turkish

Release Date:

19 July 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Earrings of Madame De...

Filming Locations:

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Place Sainte-Geneviève, Paris 5, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,409, 18 March 2007

Gross USA:

$130,561

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$135,636

Company Credits

Production Co:

Franco London Films, Indusfilms, Rizzoli Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1