Madame Claude (1977)

Allegedly based on actual events, this international tale of erotica and intrigue tells the story of the Parisian Madame Claude who provides classy call girls for the wealthy and powerful.

Director:

Just Jaeckin

Writers:

André G. Brunelin, Jacques Quoirez (novel)

Stars:

Françoise Fabian, Dayle Haddon, Murray Head

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Françoise Fabian	...	Madame Claude
Dayle Haddon	...	Elizabeth
Murray Head	...	David Evans
Klaus Kinski	...	Alexander Zakis
Vibeke Knudsen-Bergeron	...	Anne-Marie (as Vibeke Knudsen)
Maurice Ronet	...	Pierre
Robert Webber	...	Howard
Jean Gaven	...	Gustave Lucas
André Falcon	...	Paul
François Perrot	...	Lefevre
Marc Michel	...	Hugo
Roland Bertin	...	Soulier
Ed Bishop	...	Smith
Karl Held	...	Stanfield
Ylva Setterborg	...	Jill

Storyline

Based on a true story. Madame Claude, a well connected Parisienne with dark past, runs a network of high-class call girls. She sends her girls to any place in the world to satisfy sexual desires of wealthy and powerful men. Claude's manipulations also involve big business and politics. Meanwhile, photographer David Evans is trying to clear his own criminal record by providing the authorities with pictures of Claude's girls with important clients in compromising positions. But powerful men can do anything to keep their secrets...

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Plot Keywords:

woman wears a man's shirt | call girl | paris france | lesbian | female frontal nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Murray Head later claimed he was also planned to contribute to the musical soundtrack of the film before Serge Gainsbourg was hired to compose the entire soundtrack.

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Quotes

[Running in the woods.]
David Evans: Where are you? I want to see my executioner! I'm innocent! I'm a nobody! Why kill me? Why kill me? Why don't you speak? Go ahead!
[He's shot and falls, looking up, smiling.]
David Evans: That's strange. I hear the rain.
[Laughs.]
David Evans: But I can't... feel it.

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Connections

Referenced in Operación Mantis (El exterminio del macho) (1985)

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Soundtracks

Fish-Eye Blues
Written by Serge Gainsbourg
Arranged and Performed by Jean-Pierre Sabar Et Son Orchestre

User Reviews

Nice 70's Drama/Porno flick.

It's more than just a French soft porn flick. There's an intriguing complicated plot involving Washington, Paris, spies, the "Lockheed Scandal", the CIA, etc. It has a nostalgic feeling of the 1970's, the same way "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" brings you to the 60's. Officially, Fabian is Madame Claude, the owner of a Parisian modeling agency. It is an open secret, however, that her operation actually traffics in expensive call girls for the wealthy and powerful. Some of these girls will undergo blackmail, because David, photographer of trade, has images of these Johns in compromising positions. An awesome erotic film that shows all the actresses on different stages of undress. One of the greatest sex scenes ever taking place early on in a hot tub.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English Italian

Release Date:

August 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

The French Woman

Filming Locations:

Hotel 3 Rue De Castiglione, Paris, 75001, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orphée Arts

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1