Mississippi Mermaid (1969)

A wealthy plantation owner is captivated by a mysterious woman with a shady past.

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (based on the novel by) (as William Irish), François Truffaut (adaptation)

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Nelly Borgeaud

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Louis Mahé
Catherine Deneuve	...	Julie Roussel / Marion Vergano
Nelly Borgeaud	...	Berthe
Martine Ferrière	...	Landlady
Marcel Berbert	...	Jardine
Yves Drouhet	...	Detective
Michel Bouquet	...	Comolli
Roland Thénot	...	Richard

Storyline

Louis Mahe is a tobacco planter at Reunion Island. He is waiting for Julie Roussel to marry him. He only knows her by mail. The woman that comes does not like the picture he got, but he marries her anyway. Soon, she flees with Louis' money. She was not the real Julie Roussel but Marion. Louis tries to find her... Another Truffaut's film about passion.

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Plot Keywords:

woman | aix en provence | confidence woman | self destruction | assumed identity | 

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Taglines:

The Bride Came as Advertised...With an Unadvertised Special

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some nudity/sexuality

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French

Release Date:

18 June 1969 (France)

Also Known As:

Mississippi Mermaid

Filming Locations:

Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Box Office

Budget:

$1,600,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,668, 12 July 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$26,893, 20 March 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Carrosse,Les Productions Artistes Associés,Produzioni Associate Delphos

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Quite uniquely, Truffaut chose to shoot the film almost completely in chronological order, the reason being that he found the relationship between the two main characters so important that he wanted it to develop in a natural way. He actually spent the nights re-writing the scenes he would film the next day, to follow the dynamics between the leading couple.

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Goofs

When the disc Marion has recorded is run over in the street and shattered, she kneels to retrieve the pieces; at first her right knee is uppermost, but then suddenly her left knee is higher, as she stands.

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Quotes

Louis Mahé: Here we go. You're sulking. I knew it. Now you're just pretending to be mad because inside you're not really mad. You put on that cold look... but inside you're smiling. Come on. Show me your smile.
Julie Roussel: I'm fed up with all that smile crap! It doesn't work anymore! Don't speak to me. For Christ's sake, leave me alone!
Louis Mahé: All right. Okay. That's fine with me. It's not difficult to know what you're thinking of me. And you're asking yourself... "Why the hell am I with this guy who's broke... and can't ...
[...]

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Connections

References Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

User Reviews

criminally underrated gem

This is one of the best films I've seen in the last years.Belmonndo and Deneuve shine in their respective roles, he as a naive plantation owner and she as an enigmatic trickster.Words won't do this masterpiece justice,suffice it to say that this is a movie that explores the darker side of love and the pain,humiliation and capacity for self-delusion that go with it, although it's dressed as a film noir. Forget that feeble remake with Jolie and Banderas, see the genuine artticle instead and treat yourselves to some moments of great cinematic beauty.