Elvire Popesco Movies
- 1960
In what must be the longest lapse of time between a film and its sequel, 70-year-old Abel Gance continues his nearly legendary, 1927 historical drama Napoleon with this tale of Napoleon's life after his victories in Italy. The first half of Austerlitz delves into the private life of Napoleon Bonaparte (Pierre Mondy), the prodigal son of Corsica. The supreme commander of the French armed forces goes about his family life and dallies with Josephine (Martine Carol) and mistress Mlle. de Vaudey (Leslie Caron). He occasionally displays bursts of temper that presage some of the macho violence of the battle scenes in the second half of the film, after Napoleon has proclaimed himself Emperor. This sequel shows that Gance has not lost his directorial touch. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Mondy, Rossano Brazzi, (more)
René Clément's thriller Purple Noon stars Alain Delon as Tom Ripley, an American who travels to Europe on an all-expenses-paid mission to convince his friend, the errant playboy Philippe Greenleaf (Maurice Ronet), to travel to San Francisco at the request of the wealthy Greenleaf family. Initially, the pair enjoy the good life in Italy, often to the anger and dismay of Philippe's much put-upon fiancee Marge (Marie Laforet). However, as Tom's funds begin to run dry, it becomes more and more apparent that Philippe has no intentions of returning to the U.S., forcing Tom to consider more nefarious means of maintaining his extravagant lifestyle. Purple Noon is adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, and like Alfred Hitchcock's classic Strangers on a Train, also based on Highsmith's work, the theme of identity transference is dominant. The subject even extends to the homoerotic undercurrents which simmer below the surface of Tom and Philippe's relationship, setting into motion a love/hate tension which explodes during a high seas journey. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, (more)
- 1942
Le Voile Bleu is a tear-stained "perservering through the years" drama starring Gaby Morlay. During WW1, Red Cross nurse Louise (Morlay) loses her soldier-husband in battle. Shortly thereafter, her newborn baby dies. Once she's come to terms with her grief, Louise vows to devote her life to caring for other people's children, which she does for the next four decades at great personal sacrifice. The fruits of her selfless efforts are revealed at the climax, when several of Louise's grown-up charges gather to honor their surrogate mother in a glorious "family" reunion. The Blue Veil was remade in Hollywood in 1952, with Jane Wyman in the lead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Elvire Popesco, (more)
- 1940
Originally released in 1939 as Paradis Perdu (Paradise Lost), Abel Gance's Four Flights to Love is typical of the great director's entertaining but insignificant later efforts. The storyline spans the years between the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Second. Unable to reconcile himself to the death of his wife, Parisian fashion designer Pierre (Fernand Gravey) withdraws into himself, refusing to make contact with his daughter (Micheline Presle) Eventually he "opens up" enough for a reconciliation with the girl, and even begins a new romance with woman several years younger than himself. Fernand Gravey ages and ages convincingly in Four Flights to Love, delivering a well-rounded portrayal of an underdeveloped character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Micheline Presle, Elvire Popesco, (more)
- 1939
That matchless French farceur Fernandel has a field day in L'Heritier de Mondesir (The Mondesir Heir). A wicked lampoon on astrology, the story is set in motion when the Baron de Mondesir dies suddenly, leaving a fortune behind. A rustic rube (Fernandel, who also plays six other roles!) finds that, as the Baron's illegitimate offspring, he is the sole heir to the Mondesir estate. It is at this point that our hero is pounced upon by phony astrologers Elvire Popesco and Jules Berry, who seek to separate Fernandel from his bankroll by convincing him that the disposition of his estate has been predetermined by the stars. The villains almost get away with it, but Fernandel is saved by a vision of his noble ancestors, who warn him not to be so gosh-darned gullible. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernandel, Felicien Tramel, (more)
- 1939
Filmmaker Sacha Guitry's only cinematic contribution for 1939 was Ils Etaient Neuf Celibataires, released stateside as There Were Nine Bachelors. Set sometime in the past, the story gets under way when a new law calls for the expulsion of certain foreigners from Paris. Among those slated for deportation is Polish stage star Elvire Popesco. Guitry plays an opportunist who offers to help Popesco remain in France in exchange for her help in a highly suspicious "lonely hearts" scam. Our so-called hero intends to marry off nine elderly bachelors with an equal number of female foreign aliens, so that the latter will be able to declare themselves as French citizens. Naturally, most of the financial proceeds of this venture are to remain in Guitry's possession -- not to mention any female "fringe benefits" picked up along the way. With so complicated and convoluted a plotline, it is little wonder that Sacha Guitry's films seldom imported well, especially when decked out with inadequate English-language subtitles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sacha Guitry, Elvire Popesco, (more)
- 1939
Per its title, the all-star Derriere la Facade (Behind the Facade) exposes the truth about a group of supposedly respectable citizens. Enraged that his jurist father is keeping a blowzy mistress, the judge's son heads into the Parisian "demimonde" to set things right. In short order, the mistress is murdered and the son is accused of the crime. A pair of ambitious police detectives think that there's more to the case than meets the eyes, as indeed there is. Characters essential to the action include a naïve young soldier, a nimble-fingered card sharp, a sinister knife thrower and a slimy gigolo. Oh yes, Erich von Stroheim is also on hand for intermittent moments of menace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Elvire Popesco, (more)
- 1939
Le Bois Sacre (Sacred Woods) was adapted from the play of the same name by Robert de Fiers and A. de Caillavet. Elvire Popesco stars as popular novelist Mme. Margerie, who is put out when she is not nominated for the Legion of Honor award. One of the judges, M. Champmorel (Andre Lefaur) offers to put her name in competition in exchange for a few? um?favors, but Margerie will have none of this. However, she isn't above encouraging the romance between her own husband (Victor Boucher) and Champmorel's wife (Gaby Morlay) as a method of earning the coveted prize. Marcel Dalio contributes another sparkling cameo as Mme. Champmorel's former lover, a flamboyant Russian ballet master. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvire Popesco, Gaby Morlay, (more)
- 1938
This French melodrama was originally released in 1938 as Education de Prince. Comic actor Fernand Charpin plays the Bargekeeper, whose daughter (Josette Day) falls in love with prince-in-exile Sascha (Robert Lynen). Wealthy baron Cercieux (Louis Jouvet) raises enough money to restore Sascha to his throne, but this will require a marriage of convenience to a worthy member of royalty. Refusing to renounce his sweetheart, Sascha cleverly arranges to ascend to the throne and marry the girl of his dreams -- but it takes a heap of operetta-style plotting to do so. By the time the New York censors were finished with The Barge-Keeper's Daughter, it had been shorn by nearly three reels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvire Popesco, Josette Day, (more)
- 1936
Filmed two years before the Nazi takeover of France, The King (Le Roi) made its way to the U.S. in 1941. Victor Francen plays the title character, a playboy regent who goes out for a night on the town during a visit to Paris. In the course of the evening's revelry, Francen enjoys a brief fling with gorgeous Gaby Morlay -- who happens to be the mistress of the king's host, cabinet minister Raimu. Though enraged at being cuckolded, Raimu tries to honor the usual proprieties of protocol and class distinctions, with amusing results. Like many late-1930s films, The King was obviously inspired by the pre-abdication shenanigans of the Prince of Wales. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Elvire Popesco, (more)
