Air of Paris (1954)

The story of Andre Menard, a promising young amateur boxer from an impoverished background who is mentored by former pro Victor Le Garrec, and whose career path takes a nosedive when he falls for the wealthy Corinne.

Director:

Marcel Carné

Writers:

Marcel Carné (adaptation), Jacques Sigurd (adaptation)

Stars:

Jean Gabin, Arletty, Roland Lesaffre

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Gabin	...	Victor Le Garrec
Arletty	...	Blanche Le Garrec
Roland Lesaffre	...	André Ménard
Marie Daëms	...	Corinne
Maria Pia Casilio	...	Maria Pozzi
Ave Ninchi	...	Mme. Pozzi
Simone Paris	...	Chantal
Marcelle Praince	...	Vieille dame
Mathilde Casadesus	...	Voyageuse (as Mathilde Casadessus)
Maurice Sarfati	...	Jojo
Lucien Raimbourg	...	Hospital worker
Séraphin Ferrer	...	Boxer (as Sébastien Ferrer)
Legendre	...	Boxer
Streicher	...	Boxer
Roger Michelot	...	Coach

Storyline

The story of Andre Menard, a promising young amateur boxer from an impoverished background who is mentored by former pro Victor Le Garrec, and whose career path takes a nosedive when he falls for the wealthy Corinne.

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Plot Keywords:

place name in title | paris france | city name in title | based on novel | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Italian post-synchronized version, the actors are dubbed by: Emilio Cigoli (Jean Gabin), Lydia Simoneschi (Arletty), Stefano Sibaldi (Roland Lessaffre) and Vinicio Sofia (Folco Lulli). Maria Pia Casilio who was still on location in France filming The Adultress (1953) was not able to get back to Rome in time for the post synchronization so it was Rosetta Calavetta who lent her voice for the role of the shy Maria Pozzi. Only Ave Ninchi ended up dubbing herself.

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Connections

Featured in Cinema: Alguns Cortes - Censura III (2015)

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Soundtracks

L'Air de Paris
Music by Marc Heyral
Lyrics by Francis Lemarque
Performed by Yves Montand

User Reviews

A curiosity, well worth seeing

This was the last movie that Jean Gabin and Arletty made together for Carné, the absence of Jacques Prévert as screenwriter (as he was on Le Jour Se lève) shows, the plot is rather confused and indecisive. Nevertheless, the photography on location in 1950s Paris is beautiful, many shots look like Brassai photographs, and the climactic scene in the seedy local boxing-ring has some of the same atmosphere as the great scenes in the popular theatre in Carné's masterpiece, "Les Enfants du Paradis". Arletty, by then over 50, is experimenting with playing a less glamorous, rather frumpy part, but she is still fascinating to watch. The thrill is in the ambiguous relationship between Gabin, as the ageing boxing coach, and his blond, sometimes hysterical protégé. There is an extraordinary scene in which he goes to get him back, when the boy has run away and is living in a run-down Algerian hostel. It isn't a great film, on the level of Hotel du nord or Les Portes de La Nuit, but it is well worth seeing for anyone curious about the French cinema in the period between the Occupation and the beginning of the Nouvelle Vague. It is available on video in France.

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

24 September 1954 (France)

Also Known As:

Air of Paris

Filming Locations:

Paris Studios Cinéma, Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Del Duca Films, Galatea Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1