Paul and Michelle (1974)

The continuation of Friends (1971). The story begins three years after Paul Harrison is forced to leave Michelle Latour and their baby, Sylvie, alone in the Camargue after the police ... See full summary »

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Lewis Gilbert (story), Vernon Harris

Stars:

Anicée Alvina, Sean Bury, Keir Dullea

Cast

Credited cast:
Anicée Alvina	...	Michelle Latour
Sean Bury	...	Paul Harrison
Keir Dullea	...	Garry
Ronald Lewis	...	Sir Robert
Catherine Allégret	...	Joanna
Georges Beller	...	Daniel
Anne Lonnberg	...	Susannah
Sara Stout	...	Sylvie
Steve Gilbert	...	Nic
Anthony Clarke	...	Hush
Peggy Frankston	...	Lilli
Peter Graves	...	Sir Henry
Toby Robins	...	Jane
André Maranne	...	Bellancourt
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jenny Arasse	...	Sister Mercier

Storyline

The continuation of Friends (1971). The story begins three years after Paul Harrison is forced to leave Michelle Latour and their baby, Sylvie, alone in the Camargue after the police finally locate his workplace. As a minor, the boy must be returned to his father and step-mother who live in Paris. Paul is sent to England to go to school. Upon completion of his graduation from prep school with honors ("all the prizes"), Paul begins to search for Michelle, learning from her cousin that Michelle had to take refuge in a nunnery. Paul visits with one of the nuns there, Sister Mercier, and quickly finds out that Michelle was placed in a Pâtisserie owned by Monsieur Bellancourt in Nice where Paul subsequently discovers she lived and worked for about six months... then one day, Michelle suddenly walked out. Advised by a fellow employee who has seen Michelle in the market place the week before, Paul learns that Michelle is still in Nice. After a series of near-misses, Paul eventually finds ...

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Plot Keywords:

character names as title | forenames as title | three word title | topless female nudity | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Their love story was so unique it inspired two motion pictures, "Friends" in 1971. And now "Paul and Michelle."

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The motorcycle hitched to the couple's sidecar is a 650cc Triumph

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Quotes

[Paul and Michelle go to a hotel room and make love]
Michelle Latour: As if for one moment I could ever have doubted.
Paul Harrison: Did you ever?
Michelle Latour: Only until we had the bad times.
Paul Harrison: What are we going to do?
Michelle Latour: I don't know. I want nights and nights and nights like this.
Paul Harrison: Michelle Latour... you are indescribably, earth shatteringly, nerve rackingly beautiful. What are you thinking?
Michelle Latour: We smell much sweatier now than when we were young.
Paul Harrison: We were a million times more passionate.
Michelle Latour: And otherwise just the same.

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Connections

Follows Friends (1971)

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Soundtracks

Paul And Michelle
Music by Michel Colombier
Lyrics by Don Black
Sung by Russell Stone

User Reviews

Better than Expected

I finally saw Paul & Michelle this weekend. A little Googling revealed that it can be found in streaming form. I had been looking for it since I saw 'Friends' around a decade ago. I searched that one out mainly because of the Elton John soundtrack. The song 'Friends' is actually an Elton & Bernie classic that has somehow slipped under the radar. Part of the reason probably being that the Friends album went out of print and it took a couple decades for it to finally make it on an official digital release (Rare Masters, 1992). All that aside, I watched 'Friends' and enjoyed the Elton music and of course the beauty of the Michelle character. It is very obvious that Anicée got the role on her looks alone. Her acting is pretty terrible but there is a sweetness to it, so we can cut her some slack. The 1970s were obviously a different time. In 2019 we certainly have controversial movies but members of the busybody community now totally overreact to coming-of-age films. But in 'Paul & Michelle' the characters are three years older and the taboo feel of the first film disappears. Anicée is still a lousy actress but she is featured nude multiple times, which will please those who appreciate such things. The story is unremarkable and rather cliche, but it does work. It has a genuine feel to it and it has heart, although there are corny moments that will make you laugh.

I do wonder if there were plans to make a sequel to this sequel. Three years later would have been 1977 and we could see Paul & Michelle getting into the disco scene. Or maybe they could have waited a decade and the new film could feature a 13-year-old Sylvie who is now discovering her own sexuality. The parents, who might now live in the States, would be completely freaking out in the "family values" Reagan-era. "Paul, whatever will we do with the precocious Sylvie?!" Sadly, Anicée has long since passed, and all we can do now is speculate as to what could have been.

Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Paul and Michelle

Filming Locations:

Studio de Billancourt, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lewis Gilbert Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1