Aimé Clariond Movies

A stock, provincial crime drama by Hollywood's glamorous standards, Delit de Fuite tells the story of Fred (Felix Marten) an unfortunate journalist who becomes attracted to and then enamored of, the young wife of an older business tycoon. Fred's involvement with her parallels a bit of nasty skulduggery, as both a murder and blackmail make their way into the story. How they are resolved takes some time, some long time, in the telling. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Martine Carol plays the title character in the comedy melodrama Nathalie. The heroine is a professional model who becomes innocently mixed up in a robbery/murder case. Deciding to play detective, Nathalie leads both the authorities and the underworld on a merry chase. She also wins the heart of police inspector Franck (Michel Piccoli), who does his best to shield her from the evil machinations of criminal mastermind Coco (Philippe Clay). A big hit in France, Nathalie also did quite well in the U.S. under the title Foxiest Girl in Paris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though nearly as lavish as the 1938 MGM film of the same name, the 1955 French historical epic Marie Antoinette is not nearly as coherent or entertaining. Michele Morgan stars as the Austrian princess who becomes the last Queen of France in waning years of the 18th century. Jacques Morel costars as King Louis XVIII, Antoinette's slow-witted, ineffectual husband, while Richard Todd is the dashing European ambassador who briefly brings romance into the heroine's life. The episodic screenplay seldom sticks to the point long enough to detail the reasons behind the fall of the French aristocracy and the ultimate execution of the royal family. In addition, Michele Morgan is a bit too frosty and distant to warrant audience sympathy. Marie Antoinette was filmed simulatenously in French- and English-language versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sacha Guitry's Si Versailles M'Etait Conte (If Versailles Were Told to Me) is best known by its American title Royal Affairs in Versailles. In addtion to writing and directed the film, Guitry reserves for himself the plum role of Louis XIV. Concentrating on the palace of Versailles over a period of 300 years, the storyline concentrates on the various amorous and political intrigues of three French kings. The plot manages to wend its way through the French revolution, coming to a halt in "the present". The star-studded supporting cast includes Jean Marais as Louis XV, Claudette Colbert as Mme. Montespan, Micheline Presle as Mme. Pompadour, and, best of all, Orson Welles as a gouty Ben Franklin. Most currently available prints of Si Versailles M'Etait Conte are severely edited, and fail to do justice to the rich Eastmancolor hues of the original version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, set after the Napoleonic Wars, the aristocratic Chabert comes back to his palatial home to find that his wife has remarried. She had given Chabert, whom she never really loved, up for dead. Her new husband, who is also richer, makes her much happier. To protect her new life, the wife calls Chabert an imposter and has him committed to an asylum. He sneaks out and wanders the streets where he meets and becomes friends with the impoverished street folk. By the time his true identity is revealed it is too late. Chabert has decided to renounce his aristocracy and opts to live with the poor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This dark drama, based on Dostoyevsky's novella, chronicles the exploits of a jealous widower who is enraged to discover that his child is really the product of a union between his wife and her secret lover. For revenge, the widower forces the lover to take the child. Unfortunately, the child dies, and both men feel horribly guilty. The widower is so angry that he wants to kill the lover. Instead, he simply wanders away. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In films from 1937, Bernard Blier at last essays his first starring role in Monsieur Gregoire S'Evade. The title character is a meek insurance clerk who finds himself the unwitting dupe of a gang of jewel thieves. Worried that he'll be blamed for the theft, M. Gregoire takes it on the lam (hence the title). He undergoes numerous amusing misadventures before he is able to clear himself and nab the real crooks. Oddly, Monsieur Gregoire S'Evade is not listed on most of the published "official" resumes of Bernard Blier's film work, even though it was his "breakthrough" picture. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide