Mado (1976)

Middle-aged businessman, Simon Léotard finds his future in jeopardy when his partner Julien commits suicide after having accumulated a mass of debts. Simon's unscrupulous business rival ... See full summary »

Director:

Claude Sautet

Writers:

Claude Néron, Claude Sautet

Stars:

Michel Piccoli, Ottavia Piccolo, Jacques Dutronc

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michel Piccoli	...	Simon Léotard
Ottavia Piccolo	...	Mado
Jacques Dutronc	...	Pierre
Charles Denner	...	Reynald Manecca
Romy Schneider	...	Hélène
Julien Guiomar	...	Lépidon
Claude Dauphin	...	Vaudable
Michel Aumont	...	Aimé Barachet
Jean Bouise	...	André
André Falcon	...	Mathelin
Benoît Allemane	...	Antoine
Jacques Richard	...	Girbal
Jean-Denis Robert	...	Alex
Nicolas Vogel	...	Maxime
Marc Chapiteau	...	Francis

Storyline

Middle-aged businessman, Simon Léotard finds his future in jeopardy when his partner Julien commits suicide after having accumulated a mass of debts. Simon's unscrupulous business rival Lépidon offers to save him from bankruptcy by buying his company, at a discount rate. Reluctant to fall into Lépidon's trap, Simon decides to resolve the crisis himself. A prostitute, Mado, provides him with the solution to his problems...

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | stuck in mud | drinking and driving | group of friends | blackmail | 

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Taglines:

You'll Remember Her Name!

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Claude Sautet or the Invisible Magic (2003)

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Soundtracks

Mado (Générique Fin)
Performed by Hubert Rostaing Et Son Orchestre featuring John Surman on Baritone Saxophone

User Reviews

A slow burner.

A few years ago The BFI showed a season of the films of Claude Sautet. It proved to be a revelation to many who were unfamiliar with his work. I seem to recall that 'Mado' was the one about which members were less inclined to enthuse. The comparative paucity of reviews on IMDB would seem to reinforce that view. Speaking as an avowed devotee of Sautet's work I am the first to admit that this is not one of his best. I would even concede that it is a misfire, to which all good directors are occasionally prone. The material does not really justify a running time of two hours and it takes an age to get going. There are also far too many uninteresting and extraneous characters. It concerns a man who is under tremendous financial strain after the suicide of his business partner. Help comes from an unexpected source but everything comes at a price and not only financial! Michel Piccoli, who found international fame in Sautet's 'Les Choses de ma Vie' is here working with him for the fourth time. His performance as Simon is riveting and is probably the reason one sticks with the film. One of Sautet's strengths is in intimate scenes and Piccoli is ably complemented in these by Ottavia Piccolo, Charles Denner and the magical Romy Schneider whose all too brief appearance leaves us wanting more which is always the mark of a great star. There are many of course who would have gone to see this precisely because of Schneider's participation so one can readily appreciate their disappointment at the smallness of her role, however effective. There is an excellent cameo by Claude Dauphin whose artistry marks him out as one of the Old School. Good writing from Claude Neron and a fine score by Philippe Sarde. I would certainly not recommend this film unreservedly to those who are coming to Sautet for the first time as this might deter them from discovering his many cinematic gems which would be a disservice to both them and Sautet!

Details

Country:

France Italy West Germany

Language:

French

Release Date:

27 October 1976 (France)

Also Known As:

Dekle Mado

Filming Locations:

Auberge du Grand Courrier, Grand-Place, Cernay-la-Ville, Yvelines, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Italgema Roma, Les Films de la Boétie, Terra-Filmkunst

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1