La Beauté du Diable (1950)
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Synopsis of La Beauté du Diable
La Beaute du Diable came into being when French filmmaker Rene Clair became fascinated with a structural defect in the "Faust" legend. Clair felt that the beginning and end of the story was perfect, but the middle section, wherein the title character blasphemes the Pope, was "silly." The director also wondered what would happen if, instead of forcing Faust to sign his soul away in exchange for happiness and knowledge, the Devil were to ask for nothing, and simply assume that Faust would sign the contract at a later date. As played by Michel Simon, Clair's devil -- or Mephisto --is actually quite a likeable fellow. In fact, he's more fun to be around than the somewhat ethereal Faust of Gerard Philipe. In establishing the "reality" of his fantasy, Clair utilizes several adroit camera tricks to get the audience to swallow the tale. Nicole Besnard co-stars as Marguerite, the vessel of Faust's ultimate redemption. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of La Beauté du Diable
- Michel Simon - Faust as an old man; Mephistopheses
- Nicole Besnard - Marguerite
- Raymond Cordy - Antoine
- Gaston Modot - Gypsy
- Paolo Stoppa - Official
- Gérard Philipe - Young Henri Faust
- Simone Valere - The Princess
- Tullio Carminatti - Diplomat
- Carlo Ninchi - The Prince
- Director(s):
- René Clair
- Writer(s):
- René Clair, Armand Salacrou
- Producer(s):
- René Clair
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