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A Certain Smile

  • 1958
  • Approved
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
322
YOUR RATING
A Certain Smile (1958)
Drama

Dominique, a law student at the Sorbonne, is engaged to a fellow classmate. Unfortunately, she's more attracted to his philandering Uncle Luc, who's married to the charming Françoise. Domini... Read allDominique, a law student at the Sorbonne, is engaged to a fellow classmate. Unfortunately, she's more attracted to his philandering Uncle Luc, who's married to the charming Françoise. Dominique and Luc begin a tawdry affair.Dominique, a law student at the Sorbonne, is engaged to a fellow classmate. Unfortunately, she's more attracted to his philandering Uncle Luc, who's married to the charming Françoise. Dominique and Luc begin a tawdry affair.

  • Director
    • Jean Negulesco
  • Writers
    • Frances Goodrich
    • Albert Hackett
    • Françoise Sagan
  • Stars
    • Rossano Brazzi
    • Joan Fontaine
    • Bradford Dillman
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    322
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jean Negulesco
    • Writers
      • Frances Goodrich
      • Albert Hackett
      • Françoise Sagan
    • Stars
      • Rossano Brazzi
      • Joan Fontaine
      • Bradford Dillman
    • 8User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 nominations total

    Photos14

    A Certain Smile (1958)
    Rossano Brazzi and Christine Carère in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Rossano Brazzi in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Christine Carère in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Christine Carère in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Rossano Brazzi and Christine Carère in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Rossano Brazzi and Christine Carère in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Bradford Dillman in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Christine Carère, Bradford Dillman, and Sandy Livingston in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Rossano Brazzi and Christine Carère in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Christine Carère and Sandy Livingston in A Certain Smile (1958)
    Joan Fontaine in A Certain Smile (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rossano Brazzi
    Rossano Brazzi
    • Luc Ferrand
    Joan Fontaine
    Joan Fontaine
    • Françoise Ferrand
    Bradford Dillman
    Bradford Dillman
    • Bertrand Griot
    Christine Carère
    Christine Carère
    • Dominique Vallon
    • (as Christine Carere)
    Eduard Franz
    Eduard Franz
    • M. Vallon
    Katherine Locke
    Katherine Locke
    • Mme. Vallon
    Kathryn Givney
    Kathryn Givney
    • Mme. Griot
    Steven Geray
    Steven Geray
    • Denis
    Johnny Mathis
    Johnny Mathis
    • Self
    Trude Wyler
    • Mme. Denis
    Sandy Livingston
    • Catherine
    Renate Hoy
    Renate Hoy
    • Mlle. Minot
    Muzaffer Tema
    Muzaffer Tema
    • Pierre
    Edit Angold
    • Cook
    • (uncredited)
    Herman Belmonte
    • Club Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Sheryl Deauville
    Sheryl Deauville
    • Contessa at Opera
    • (uncredited)
    Gabrille Del Valle
    • South American
    • (uncredited)
    David Hoffman
    David Hoffman
    • Concierge
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jean Negulesco
    • Writers
      • Frances Goodrich(screenplay)
      • Albert Hackett(screenplay)
      • Françoise Sagan(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first feature film of Bradford Dillman.
    • Connections
      Referenced in You Bet Your Life: Episode #9.33 (1959)
    • Soundtracks
      A Certain Smile
      Music by Sammy Fain

      Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

      Sung by Johnny Mathis

    User reviews8

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Neither a good film, or a bad one
    Francoise Sagan's novels have all in my opinion suffered at the hands of writers and directors bringing her work to the screen. I even find the often praised Otto Preminger version of ' Bonjour Tristesse ' unconvincing, and like ' A Certain Smile ' suffers from uncertain casting. Only ' La Chamade ' made in French partly works in Sagan's favour despite again one poor actor nearly ruining it, and saved by Catherine Deneuve. But against all the odds against it I find ' A Certain Smile ' to be very watchable. Jean Negulesco catches the exterior's of Paris in the late 1950's well, and the film is worth watching for any Paris lovers. It is not the over polished Paris that we see now (I am talking of the centre and not the suburbs) and the sight of it caught at my throat with nostalgia. The sad news is that only one fairly to poor copy of this film seems to be available, and I cannot imagine why there is no decent DVD of it. Christine Carere has charm, but her tortured English is painful to hear. Rossano Brazzi was ill chosen, and looked rather bored as her older lover, and Bradford Dillman in his first role is very good indeed as Carere's ill treated boyfriend. And Joan Fontaine as Brazzi's wife is excellent, especially in the scenes where she confronts her husband with his infidelities. She is the most capable actor as she shows she has perhaps read the book closely enough to try to get to the heart of it. Despite perhaps justifiable criticism the film strangely works, and it is a shame that Christine Carere was not given more time in learning English, and those who decided to make the film should have realised that. She is good with the ending and that counts. And to repeat what I have said it is better than some other more worthy Sagan translations to the screen, and I could watch it more than once.
    helpful•3
    1
    • jromanbaker
    • Jul 14, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1958 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Izvestan osmeh
    • Filming locations
      • Paris, France
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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