The Little Theatre of Jean Renoir (1970)

Made for television, this film consists of four parts: Part One, "The Last Christmas Dinner," is about the relationship between an old man and an old woman, both homeless. Part Two, "The ... See full summary »

Director:

Jean Renoir

Writer:

Jean Renoir

Stars:

Nino Formicola, Milly, Roger Trapp

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nino Formicola	...	Le clochard / The Bum (segment "Le dernier réveillon")
Milly	...	La clocharde / Female Bum (segment "Le dernier réveillon") (as Milly Monti)
Roger Trapp	...	Max Vialle (segment "Le dernier réveillon")
Robert Lombard	...	Le maître d'hôtel (segment "Le dernier réveillon")
André Dumas	...	Le gérant (segment "Le dernier réveillon")
Roland Bertin	...	Gontran (segment "Le dernier réveillon")
Paul Bisciglia	...	Un clochard (segment "Le dernier réveillon")
Marguerite Cassan	...	Émilie (segment "La cireuse électrique")
Pierre Olaf	...	Gustave, le mari / The Husband (episode "La cireuse électrique")
Jacques Dynam	...	Jules, le second mari / The Second Husband (segment "La cireuse électrique")
Lisa Livane	...	Un amoureux / Young Man (segment "La cireuse électrique") (as Claude Guillaume)
Denis Gunsbourg	...	Un amoureux / Young Man (segment "La cireuse électrique")
Jean-Louis Tristan	...	Le représentant / Agent (segment "La cireuse électrique")
Jeanne Moreau	...	La chanteuse (segment "Quand l'amour meurt")
Fernand Sardou	...	Duvallier (segment "Le roi d'Yvetot")

Storyline

Made for television, this film consists of four parts: Part One, "The Last Christmas Dinner," is about the relationship between an old man and an old woman, both homeless. Part Two, "The Electric Floor Polisher," is an opera-like story of a woman who is obsessed with polishing her floors. Part Three is a musical interlude featuring Jeanne Moreau singing "When Love Dies." Part Four, "The Virtue of Tolerance," concerns an old man, his young wife, and how they come to terms when she has an affair with a man her own age.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Life Itself (2014)

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Soundtracks

Quand l'amour meurt
Music by Octave Crémieux
Lyrics by Georges Millandy
Performed by Jeanne Moreau

User Reviews

Fairly good little movie

This is a fairly good effort, nothing to get excited over but certainly not bad. The floor polisher skit seems more like a play than something you would see in a movie. It is almost neurotic, maybe not something a lot of American viewers would seek out. I wouldn't pay money for this movie. The poor couple arouse your sympathy only in that poverty is disturbing. But their love for each other almost, not alienates the viewer, but they have each other so you feel less sorry for them than you would if they were alone and hungry. The food looked quite good in the restaurant. The last piece is the strongest and the one I felt most emotionally connected to. The maid was rather annoying as she was hamming it up and not particularly modest. But it was a well directed piece, and you couldn't help but feel for the older husband who was making the best of his situation. He was a real trooper. It would have been a good premise for a murder mystery. The Little Theatre is probably best viewed as a way to get to know Jean Renoir.

Details

Country:

France Italy West Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

2 May 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Little Theatre of Jean Renoir

Company Credits

Production Co:

Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF), Son et Lumière, RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1