Day for Night (1973)

A committed film director struggles to complete his movie while coping with a myriad of crises, personal and professional, among the cast and crew.

Director:

François Truffaut

Writers:

François Truffaut (screenplay), Jean-Louis Richard (screenplay)

Stars:

Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Léaud, François Truffaut

Won 1 Oscar. Another 12 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Julie Baker
Valentina Cortese	...	Séverine
Dani	...	Liliane, la stagiaire scripte
Alexandra Stewart	...	Stacey
Jean-Pierre Aumont	...	Alexandre
Jean Champion	...	Bertrand, le producteur
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	Alphonse (as Jean-Pierre Leaud)
François Truffaut	...	Ferrand, le réalisateur
Nike Arrighi	...	Odile, la maquilleuse
Nathalie Baye	...	Joëlle, la scripte
Maurice Seveno	...	Le reporter TV
David Markham	...	Dr. Michael Nelson
Bernard Menez	...	Bernard, l'accessoiriste
Gaston Joly	...	Lajoie, le régisseur
Zénaïde Rossi	...	Madame Lajoie

Storyline

The shooting of "Je vous presente Pamela" (may I introduce Pamela) begins. This is the story of en English married wife falling in love and running away with the father of her French husband. Will be simultaneously shown the shooting, the behavior of the people (including the technical team) on the set, and a part of their private life (a factor of complication)...

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Plot Keywords:

film within a film | film industry | film crew | behind the scenes | filmmaking | 

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Taglines:

A movie for people who love movies.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

During one scene, director Ferrand briefly talks about The Godfather (1972). François Truffaut was up for an Oscar for directing this film but lost to Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather: Part II (1974).

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Goofs

When Ferrand is talking to Julie in her room, his left ear appears without a hearing aid for a second.

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Quotes

Joelle: Back to work! You dictate, I'll type. We promised it to Julie tonight.
Ferrand: Okay, back to the kitchen. No more guilt or sense of shame. They decide to run away like thieves in the night.
Joelle: "Pamela" could actually say that! We must show that she's completely lucid. She loved the son, now she loves the father. That must come across.
Ferrand: Yes. Julie explained it very well. Here's her interview in the morning paper: "The girl realizes the boy she married is only a pale reflection to his father." She understood ...

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Crazy Credits

This film is dedicated to Lillian and Dorothy Gish.

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Connections

Featured in 1,001 Movies You Must See (Before You Die) (2014)

User Reviews

Are All Women Magical

A film-within-a-film that lacks the common pretension that appears in the genre. In most of these sorts, there is a certain air that "film" is a higher form of art than any existent today. What "Day for Night" straight-facedly states is that the actor's day is nothing more than the daily "grind" of the common worker, and that the director is nothing more than the "general manager," who is bombarded with questions at every turn. This film more than others clearly gives light to the famous quote of Orsen Wells -- that to make a film is comparable to playing with the world's "largest train set." What impressed me most with this film was its approach to the art form without tending toward unnecessary flourishing. In other words, it is a film about films, and nothing more. It's almost as if Truffaut desired to say, "This is what it's all about, and no joke." The film does not attempt to preach, condescend, or embellish, as most of today's "film-within-a-film" types ordinarily do. It is, in short, a delight for the eye, an excitation for those who love the art, and a pleasantry for those who enjoy sitting in one place for nearly two hours.

This is the Art of Film, by one of film's greatest admirers and pupils.

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French English Italian

Release Date:

7 September 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Day for Night

Filming Locations:

Côte d'Azur, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,206, 25 April 1999

Gross USA:

$509

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$509

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Carrosse, PECF, Produzione Intercontinentale Cinematografica (PIC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Black and White (dream sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1