Jean Desailly Movies
French leading man Jean Desailly first appeared onscreen in 1942. ~ Rovi- 1999
In the offbeat comedy La Dilettante, Pierette (Catherine Frot) is a woman who describes herself as having "opted for the temporary on a permanent basis." After 15 years of living the good life in Switzerland, Pierette one day packs her bags full of fashionable outfits and returns to her native Paris with no idea of what she'll do. Pierette, however, leads a charmed life; while her son is forced to work the graveyard shift at a factory due to poor job prospects, she's able to find a job right away at a high school. Pierette soon reintroduces herself to her 23-year-old daughter (Barbara Schulz) and one-time best friend (Nathalie Lafaurie), trying to use her charm to skate over years of neglect. She just as suddenly finds a new beau, Ackerman (Bernard Verley), and starts helping him out with his antique business. However, what would seem like a simple matter -- buying a clock from an elderly woman -- soon turns out to be very complicated and fraught with consequence. The first directorial effort in eight years from Pascal Thomas, La Dilettante was shown as part of the 1999 Moscow Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Catherine Frot, Bernard Verley, (more)
- 1998
Iranian Iradj Azimi directed this French historical drama re-creating events depicted in the famous 1819 painting The Raft of the Medusa by Jean Louis Andre Theodore Gericault (1791-1824). The ill-fated voyage of the frigate Medusa begins when it departs Rochefort for Senegal in 1816. After striking a sandbar off the African coast, 150 civilians row safely to shore, but Captain Chaumareys (Jean Yanne) orders 140 soldiers and sailors onto a raft (minus supplies) and has it cut loose. Only 14 survive from the 140, creating a scandal back in France. Gericault (Laurent Terzieff) later talks to three of the survivors while researching his painting. Work on this film began in 1987, but sets destroyed by Hurricane Hugo caused delays, so the film was not completed until 1990. However, it then remained undistributed until an incident in which writer-director Azimi slashed his wrists in front of French Ministry of Culture officials. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Yanne, Daniel Mesguich, (more)
- 1988
Immigrants from Quebec travel to the Eastern United States to work for French industrialists in this historical drama. Gratien Gelinas plays a venerable Quebecois who recalls in 1988 the era from 1907 to 1920 in a series of flashbacks. He compares the modern computer age with the steadily growing industrial era of the early 20th century. An all-star cast of French and Canadian thespians participate in this miniseries as the Quebecois deal with love, life, politics, and war. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Juliette Huot, Gratien Gelinas, (more)
Joss Beaumont (Jean-Paul Belmondo) is a French spy given the assignment of killing an African dictator, and when he arrives in Africa to do so, he is captured and put in prison. The political winds had changed - the dictator is now an ally - and the best way to handle the agent is to keep him in jail. Naturally at odds now with his former bosses and with an ax to grind for his own incarceration, the agent escapes after two years in prison and heads back to Paris where he announces that he is going to finish his assassination job during the coming diplomatic visit of the African leader. Once aware of his intent, the French government sets up one trap after another, but to no avail - the agent remains free and there is no doubt that he has the full capacity to do exactly what he says. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Michel Beaune, (more)
- 1980
The source for the French detective drama Heads or Tails? was the American novel Baroni by Alfred Harris. Phillipe Noiret plays a weary Bordeaux detective, hot on the trail of Michael Serrault. Serrault's domineering wife has allegedly committed suicide, but Noiret suspects murder. As hunter and hunted get to know one another, an unusual bond forms between them. When Noiret is forced to retire by his corrupt superiors, he accepts a bribe from Serrault, and the two men retreat to the freedom and comfort of the South Seas. A you-can-see-it-a-mile-away "surprise ending" caps this minor escapade, which was originally released in France as Pile ou Face. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pierre Arditi, Michel Serrault, (more)
- 1979
Vincent (Jacques Dutronc) is a world-weary lawyer who quits his job after he fails to successfully defend a client. He drops out of society and travels to Paris in hopes of establishing a relationship with his estranged daughter Alice (Helene Rolles). Alice is living under the protective domain of Vincent's former in-laws, who make it difficult for him to see his child. Vincent enlists the help of George (Arthur Wilkins) and Martha (Tanya Lopert), two Americans struggling to keep their Parisian restaurant from going under. He manages to gain access to his father-in-law's computer and obtains secret information in hopes of regaining the custody of his daughter. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jacques Dutronc, Helene Rolles, (more)
- 1979
A discontented concert pianist causes all sorts of heartbreak with his egotistical and womanizing antics, and all the people in his life attempt to force him to grow up in this French comedy/drama (with English subtitles). ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Rochefort, Nicole Garcia, (more)
- 1979
Je Te Tiens Tu Me Tiens Par La Barbichette refers to a French children's game, where two children hold one another's chins and stare at one another. The one who laughs first, loses. In this satire, a police detective (played by Jean Yanne) is investigating the disappearance and kidnapping of the host of a television dance show (played by Jean-Pierre Cassel). However, instead of finding his man, he is trapped into becoming a contestant on a children's quiz show. What's worse is that he becomes a very successful contestant. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Yanne, Micheline Presle, (more)
- 1974
This quirky French film examines a series of events during the German occupation of France and shows what might have happened if one thing had gone differently in each instance. The first story given this treatment concerns the assassination of a German officer by a young member of the Resistance. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pierre Clémenti, Jacques Spiesser, (more)
- 1973
Murder, industrial espionage, political intrigue and Jean-Paul Belmondo are the strengths of this French thriller. Cordell (Belmondo) is the heir of a French industrialist, who dies in an air crash. When someone almost succeeds in framing Cordell with a case of drugs, he begins to suspect that his father's death was not accidental. He hires a private detective and finds that a reporter working for his father's magazine (one of the many companies he owned) was looking into plans by another multinational to take over the company. Also, Cordell's father-in-law, a former Italian fascist, may not have given up his old loyalties. As these facts emerge, his enemies become even more determined to get him out of the way. This film caused some controversy in France where it was viewed as a sharp commentary on the society by the director, a former journalist. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Carla Gravina, (more)
Parisian police commissioner Coleman (Alain Delon) is not a happy man, but he does what he can to get through each day. He has recently started having an affair with Cathy (Catherine Deneuve), and that helps a little. Cathy is also Simon's girlfriend and Simon (Richard Crenna) is Coleman's friend. Unfortunately, Simon is also the head of a gang of criminals. When Coleman's investigation of a drug-smuggling ring closes in, their rivalry comes to a head. One of the highlights of this film is a stunt involving a helicopter and a moving train. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, (more)
This film is Joseph Losey's mood piece that delves into the psychological makeup of Frank Jackson (Alain Delon), the assassin of exiled Russian Communist leader Leon Trotsky (Richard Burton). The tale chronicles the final few months of Trotsky's life, from the May 1940 raid upon Trotsky's Mexican compound until August of that year when Jackson's assassination attempt succeeded. Much of the film details how the shy and mysterious Jackson gained access to the compound through ingratiating himself with family friend Sylvia Ageloff (Romy Schneider). The reclusive Trotsky, seeing a part of himself in Jackson, begins to warm up to him, never realizing that Jackson will be the man to finally kill him. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Burton, Alain Delon, (more)
- 1971
Nolan (Serge Reggiani) was set up to take the fall for a crime committed by his whole gang, and as a result, his brother is dead and he is forced to do a stint in prison. Nolan comes out of prison looking for his former compatriots, and not just to shake their hands. He runs into an old girlfriend, Madeleine (Jeanne Moreau), now a respectable doctor's wife. Another woman he encounters, Lea (Simone Signoret), betrays him to an enemy. The remaining cast includes a number of fine French actors who add depth to this suspense thriller (Charles Vanel, Marcel Bozzuffi, Andre Pousse, Michel Bouquet, Amidou and Jean Desailly). This is a French language film, with no dubbing or subtitles. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Simone Signoret, Serge Reggiani, (more)
- 1969
This documentary concerns the World War II Nazi occupation of France. Both the resistance movement and the government collaboration are shown in wartime footage accompanied by narration. The Free Speech movement is covered and the emergence of their leader Charles De Gaulle is shown as the resistance movement gains momentum. This objective feature does not shy away from the fact that most of the French people were willing participants in the Nazi puppet government. The film will no doubt spark animated discussions among nationals, especially when their children ask their parents what they did during the war. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- 1968
Albert (Hardy Kruger) is a Franciscan monk and a medical orderly at a monastery in France. Although he is German, the kindly monk helps hide French resistance members and gives medical treatment to anyone who needs it. Albert helps two Frenchmen who escape from a Nazi prison, and he tries to maintain the delicate balance between the warring factions by helping out the afflicted and not getting involved in political ideology. This film, based on a true story from the novel by Marc Toledano, was released nearly 23 years after the end of World War II. Some students of history allege that the French resistance was a much more insignificant affair than is shown in post-war films and express great bitterness about all Franco-German collaboration during the war. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hardy Kruger
- 1967
Adapted from the novel by C. Virgil Gheorghiu, this satirical concentration-camp drama from Turkish-born French director Henri Verneuil stars Anthony Quinn as Johann Moritz, a Romanian peasant who experiences the horrors of World War II when the Nazis invade his country. Because local police chief Dobresco (Gregoire Aslan) is anamorous towards Moritz's wife Suzanna (Virna Lisi), he has the lowly fieldhand falsely labeled a Jew and sent to a work camp. Moritz's troubles continue to mount, as his wife is threatened with losing their property unless she divorces him. Also starring Michael Redgrave, La Vingt-cinquième heure is also known as The 25th Hour, though it should not be confused with and bears no resemblance to the 2002 Spike Lee film of the same name. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Virna Lisi, (more)
- 1966
Edward (Jean Desailly) is a conservative, middle-aged husband who has made his fortune in manufacturing. He has never forgiven his flirtatious, younger wife Elena (Gunnel Lindblom) for an affair she had the previous year. Elena tries to make Edward jealous by flirting with a Dutch tourist (Van Doude), but the husband has no reaction. When Edward confides in his mother (Mien Duymaer Van Twist) that he has entertained thoughts of suicide, Mom talks Edward into faking his own death to determine Elena's reaction and loyalty to her husband. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Desailly, Gunnel Lindblom, (more)
Francois Truffaut directed this simple tale of revenge and adultery which features an exceptional musical score by Georges Delerue. The story concerns a love affair between successful literary magazine editor Pierre Lachenay (Jean Desailly) and alluring airline stewardess, Nicole Chomette (Francoise Dorleac). They meet on a flight to Lisbon, where Pierre is scheduled to deliver a lecture. When he returns to Paris, they continue their affair, but find it is difficult to set up their clandestine trysts, so Pierre arranges a lecture trip to Riems, where they can be together. In Riems however, Pierre finds it difficult to keep the affair a secret from his lecture sponsors. Upon his return to Paris, his wife Franca (Nelly Benedetti), suspicious her husband is having an affair, quarrels with Pierre, who leaves her and asks Nicole to marry him. Nicole refuses his proposition and Pierre attempts to reconcile with his wife. But Nelly, with a gun in her bag, is en route to surprise Pierre at his favorite restaurant for a final confrontation. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Desailly, Françoise Dorléac, (more)
- 1963
This tragic drama is a good example of an original hit stageplay that somehow did not make the desired transition to the big screen. A group of young boys are crushed when they find out the truth about their fathers. One runs away from home, another commits suicide, and the third boy opts to forgive the sins of his father. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Desailly, Simone Valere, (more)
Confusion and wrong assumptions are the cause of tragedy in this stylish gangster noir by director Jean-Pierre Melville. Maurice (Serge Reggiani) and Silien (Jean-Paul Belmondo) are friends going way back, and both have had a shady past. Silien wants to leave his illegal activities behind him -- but would he actually be in league with the police, as an informer? That is what Maurice suspects after he kills a fence who is responsible for the murder of one of his friends and then takes some jewels as an extra bonus. Doubts assail Maurice as well as others until it is finally decided that something has to be done about Silien. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Serge Reggiani, (more)
- 1961
Transference of guilt, a theme near and dear to the heart of French author Georges Simenon, forms the basis of Passion of Slow Fire, adapted from Simenon's novel La Mort de Belle. American student Alexandra Stewart completing her education in France, turns up murdered. The prime suspect is professor Jean Desailly, inasmuch as Stewart was residing with Desailly and his wife Monique Melinard. While the professor is innocent, the impact of the tragedy causes him to kick over the traces, acquire a mistress, and ultimately kill her. Passion of Slow Fire was also released as The End of Belle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jean Desailly, Alexandra Stewart, (more)
