Philippe Lemaire Movies
This standard erotic thriller set in St. Tropez involves an unusual ménage à trois first there is Claude, a mother approaching 40 who is also approaching a liaison with the second and pivotal figure in the trio; Romain (Bernard Giraudeau), a Don Juan who is not above pimping on occasion and who is also attracted to Claude; and thirdly, the neurotic Chris (Valèrie Kaprisky), Claude's sexually fixated young daughter. As flashbacks show Chris seducing a former lover and symbolism likens her to a jellyfish whose sting can be fatal, the scenario is set for real trouble -- especially since Chris is angered that Romain obviously avoids her and just as obviously will end up as her mother's lover. Sex, hatred, and fear combine to bring the unbalanced relationships to their final resolution. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Valérie Kaprisky, Bernard Giraudeau, (more)
This film which is billed as "the first horror-sex film" takes place in an isolated chateau. An artist is horrified when his wife's face is burned, and he decides to find a way to restore her to her former beauty. A plastic surgeon is forced to perform the operation which requires the supple flesh of beautiful young women. These women are abducted and brought to the chateau where two libidinous dwarves wait upon the artist and his wife. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philippe Lemaire, Anny Duperey, (more)
Released in Europe as Histoires Extraordinaires and Tre Passi Nel Delirio, this is a portmanteau picture, comprised of three supernatural playlets based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. "Metzengerstein," directed by Roger Vadim, stars the director's then-wife Jane Fonda as a medieval woman prone to acts of vengeance. Her brother Peter Fonda is somewhat perversely cast as her cousin, for whom she holds incestuous yearnings. When he gives her the cold shoulder, she spitefully sets fire to his stable of horses. He is himself killed in the blaze, but it seems that he has been reincarnated as a horse. In "William Wilson," directed by Louis Malle, a sadistic Austrian officer (Alain Delon) commits various S&M misdeeds upon a variety of victims, including a woman (Brigitte Bardot) with whom he plays cards. The officer himself comes to grief when he finds that the Church will not allow him to say an act of contrition. And "Never Bet Your Head," directed by Federico Fellini, updates the Poe original by casting Terence Stamp as a self-indulgent movie star. Driving drunk one evening, the actor literally bets his head that he can escape a potentially fatal accident. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terence Stamp, Jane Fonda, (more)
- 1964
There's something positively monolithic about the title Massacre at Marble City. The film's status as a western is, however, given away by its alternate title, Conquerors of Arkansas. And its country of origin is revealed by its original title, Die Golsucher von Arkansas. Brad Harris and Horst Frank star in this German actioner, wherein all heroes and villains converge upon Marble City for a cathartic shoot-out. Until we saw production stills of Massacre at Marble City, we didn't know that the Alps were in Arkansas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
In this suspenseful espionage adventure, Yankee super-sleuth Lemmy Caution must investigate the murder of a female agent and the disappearance of an important scientist. Caution's search leads him to Europe where he learns that the scientist was not kidnapped. He is instead the secret leader of a spy ring. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Constantine, Christiane Minazzoli, (more)
- 1963
Etienne (Jean Sorel) is a young man who seeks work in the coal mines of South France. After experiencing the harsh working conditions, he becomes a labor activist and tries to organize a strike to improve wages and conditions. He is tormented by the mine owner, whose promiscuous wife steps out on him at will. Etienne falls in love with the daughter of a fellow miner, but her loyalty to her father and fear for the loss of his job makes her initially unresponsive to his romantic leanings. The film version of the novel by Emile Zola loses much of the poignant political commentary of the original text. Although the strike is not entirely successful, it paves the way for new considerations of worker's rights. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Sorel, Berthe Grandval, (more)
Jean-Paul Belmondo romps his way through the role of 18th century French bandit chief Cartouche. At first robbing from everyone in sight (he has to -- he's head man of a Parisian crime syndicate) Cartouche is rechanneled into becoming a Gallic Robin Hood by beauteous gypsy Venus (Claudia Cardinale). In Highwayman fashion, Venus eventually sacrifices her own life to save Cartouche from harm. He vows to continue his activities to avenge her death, but still manages to have a riproaring good time doing so. Hilarious without being condescending, Cartouche was reissued under the completely inappropriate title Swords of Blood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Claudia Cardinale, (more)
- 1962
An aging musketeer is called out of retirement to help a king in this comic swashbuckler. The king's twin brother is freed after twenty years in an iron mask. He is to be used as a decoy for the monarch while the real king and his court roust some rebels to foil their insurgent uprising. D'Artagnan (Jean Marais) leads the way with his expert fencing to aid in the royal flush. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Marais, Jean-Francois Poron, (more)
- 1961
A social worker endeavors to rehabilitate Parisian streetwalkers in this drama. Two men later meet a pair of these reformed women and fall in love. When one of the women's old friend's is murdered, one of the girl's become a prime suspect. Actually the dead woman was slain by the ex-hooker's former employer, a gangster. Unfortunately the gangster dies in an auto wreck. Meanwhile, the social worker tries to clear the girl by telling police that she had been with her lover. The truth about the girls eventually comes out, and only one of their lovers is understanding. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Mon Coquin de Pere translates approximately as My Darned Father. The father in question, played by Claude Dauphin, falls in love with pretty young mademoiselle Gaby Morlay. Trouble is, Dauphin's son Philipe Lamaire has also set his cap for the beauteous Morlay. The film's most enjoyable scene is an extended flashback sequence, consisting of footage from the 1938 French romantic comedy We are No Longer Children -- which also featured Claude Dauphin. While the 1938 film was directed by Auguste Genina, Mon Coquin de Pere was helmed by Georges Lacombe, whose next-to-last film this was. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Antonella Lualdi, (more)
- 1957
L'Etrange Monsieur Steve (The Strange Mr. Stevens) features Armand Mestral as the title character. It is bank robber Mr. Steve (or Stevens) who introduces mild-mannered bank clerk Georges (Philippe Lemaire) to the criminal viewpoint. Fascinated by Mr. Steve's dangerous lifestyle, Georges vicariously lives his own life through the crook's activities. As a result, he leaves himself wide open for the tragedy that follows. Jeanne Moreau offers the film's best performance as a gun moll who temporarily casts a spell over the susceptible Georges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Moreau, Philippe Lemaire, (more)
- 1955
In this French crime drama, a young man gets revenge upon the criminals who caused his grandfather to kill himself. Unfortunately, the fellow doesn't realize how bad the criminals are. Fortunately, a kindly hooker, who does know the crooks, saves him from the same fate. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
