The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) Reviews

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
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Jacques Demy's 1964 masterpiece is a pop-art opera, or, to borrow the director's own description, a film in song. This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher (Nino Castelnuovo), a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery (a luminous Catherine Deneuve), an employee in her widowed mother's chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy's return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant (Marc Michel, reprising his role from Demy's masterful debut, Lola). A completely sung movie, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is closest in form to a cinematic opera. Composer Michel Legrand composed the score, modeling it around the patterns of everyday conversation. Umbrellas was re-released in 1997. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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Starring:
Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, (more)
Director(s):
Jacques Demy
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(18 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Luke J.

Demy takes the musical to its logical end by having every line of dialogue sung. This movie is certainly enchanting (if you are the musical type), but it also has something most musicals don't: a plot of some substance. Now, without revealing the ending, the plot does start out somewhat typically with a boy meets girl, boy gets girl pregnant bit; however, the resolution is atypical and should leave you asking the question, "Is this a tragic or happy ending?" I still haven't made up my mind.

Yes   |   No


Jerri G.

I really liked this unusual, but satisfying movie. Its colorful, stylized sets are visually delightful and look like 60's pop art. It's an existentialist's fairy tale about first love and the unchosen events and compromises that shape a life. At first the totally sung, everyday dialogue in basic french was a little hard to adjust to, but after a while it seemed the perfect way to tell this simple story.

Yes   |   No


Aigars B.

Great cast, wonderful music and touching story. Non-stop singing takes a little while to get used to. Worth watching. Highly recommended. Just make sure that you do not mind subtitles - movie is in French.

Yes   |   No


Jason H.

Here's the plot: boy meets girl... and they forget about each other. The concept is clever, I love the colors of the sets and costumes, and some of the music is great... but, oy! What boring people! What a stupid plot!

Yes   |   No


Lisa T.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this film and the music and storyline are both still in my mind weeks after watching it. Catherine Deneuve gives an enchanting performance as does her co-star Nino Castelnuovo. The musical score is outstanding. I thought the score would outshine the simple plot, but the wonderful script and acting make this one a real winner.

Yes   |   No


Mark R.

One Beautiful Movie! (Even with Sub - titles)

Yes   |   No


Claire T.

Everyone in our family loved this movie - the seven year old, the eleven year old, and me! What a wonderful tune to have stuck in your head.

Yes   |   No


Patrice J.

A simple romance beautifully told. Seeing Catherine Deneuve so young was breathtaking! At first the operatic style annoyed me, but as the story progressed I was moved. The bleakness of their working class lives and the mother's obvious desire to have her daughter "do better" - no matter her feelings, contrasts with the rich colors of interior scenes and bright clothing. You can't beat that song for a tearjerker. A Frankophile must see.

Yes   |   No


Rick S.

Boring!!!

Yes   |   No


Richard M.

A sensitive, beautifully scored, and artistically photographed movie. Suggestion--sit and watch, don't do the dishes or anything else while it is playing. Pay attention to the sublities of expression, color, composition. The main melody will stay with you forever.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
    Read all (18)
     
    Luke J.

    Demy takes the musical to its logical end by having every line of dialogue sung. This movie is certainly enchanting (if you are the musical type), but it also has something most musicals don't: a plot of some substance. Now, without revealing the ending, the plot does start out somewhat typically with a boy meets girl, boy gets girl pregnant bit; however, the resolution is atypical and should leave you asking the question, "Is this a tragic or happy ending?" I still haven't made up my mind.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Jerri G.

    I really liked this unusual, but satisfying movie. Its colorful, stylized sets are visually delightful and look like 60's pop art. It's an existentialist's fairy tale about first love and the unchosen events and compromises that shape a life. At first the totally sung, everyday dialogue in basic french was a little hard to adjust to, but after a while it seemed the perfect way to tell this simple story.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Aigars B.

    Great cast, wonderful music and touching story. Non-stop singing takes a little while to get used to. Worth watching. Highly recommended. Just make sure that you do not mind subtitles - movie is in French.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 18 Reviews
       

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