Yvonne de Bray Movies
French film star Yvonne de Bray was discovered by director Jean Cocteau and made her debut in his 1943 film L'Eternel Retour. Prior to that she had spent many years on stage. De Bray made her final film Quand tu Liras Cette Lettre in 1953. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1952
Originally titled Nous Sommes Tout des Assassins, We Are All Murderers was directed by Andre Cayette, a former lawyer who detested France's execution system. Charles Spaak's screenplay makes no attempt to launder the four principal characters (Marcel Mouloudji, Raymond Pellegrin, Antoinine Balpetre, Julien Verdeir): never mind the motivations, these are all hardened murderers. Still, the film condemns the sadistic ritual through which these four men are brought to the guillotine. In France, the policy is to never tell the condemned man when the execution will occur--and then to show up without warning and drag the victim kicking and screaming to his doom, without any opportunity to make peace with himself or his Maker. By the end of this harrowing film, the audience feels as dehumanized as the four "protagonists." We are All Murderers was roundly roasted by the French law enforcement establishment, but it won a special jury prize at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marcel Mouloudji, Raymond Pellegrin, (more)
- 1951
Also known as Dear Caroline, Caroline Cherie is one of the best of Martine Carol's movie vehicles. Set during the French revolution, the film relates the story of Caroline (Carol), who, to dredge up a couple of old clichés, is no better than she ought to be but is more sinned against than sinning. Faithful in her fashion to a young nobleman, Caroline undergoes several amorous misadventures before she is reunited with her true love. She also wears a variety of lavish period costumes, each one more eye-popping than the last. The screenplay for Caroline Cherie was written by playwright Jean Anouilh, whose light and delicate touch is most welcome. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martine Carol, Marie Déa, (more)
- 1951
Olivia was directed by Jacqueline Audry, who burst onto the worldwide cinema scene with 1949's Gigi. The title character, played by Claire Olivia, is a naïve new student in a fashionable finishing school. Denied affection in her own home, Olivia latches onto her headmistress Julie (Edwige Feuillere). The relationship between the older and younger woman is observed with white-hot jealousy by Cara (Simone Simon), Julie's business partner and would-be lover. Nothing good can come of this, and nothing does. Though the material lends itself to sensationalism, director Audry handles Olivia with discretion and taste. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edwige Feuillère, Simone Simon, (more)
- 1949
Also known as The Storm Within, Les Parents Terribles was adapted by director Jean Cocteau from his own stage play. Yvonne de Bray plays a manipulative, possessive mother, married to weakling Marcel Andre. At present, Yvonne is violently opposed to the impending marriage between her son Jean Marais to Josette Day. It gets more complicated than that: Day is Andre's mistress, who in turn is coveted by de Bray's sister Gabrielle Dorzat. These stunning revelations loosen the hold that De Bray has on her household. Her power gone, she seeks solace in self-destruction. Utilizing several of the original stage production's cast members, Les Parents Terrible was one of Cocteau's personal favorites (that's his voice as off-screen narrator); the property was ineffectively remade in England as Intimate Relations (1953). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Marais, Josette Day, (more)
- 1949
This French film version of Colette's best-selling novel Gigi predated both the 1950 stage adaptation and the 1958 Hollywood musical of the same name. Set in fin de siecle Paris, The story is the familiar one about 16-year-old Gigi (Daniele Delorme), a waif-like creature who is trained to become a Parisian courtesan by her worldly wise Aunt, Mme. Alvarez (Yvonne de Bray). The girl's first assignment is to serve as the "arm ornament" of wealthy playboy Gaston (Frank Villard), whose previous experiences with women have turned him into something of misogynist. When Gigi falls genuinely in love with Gaston, Mme. Alvarez is appalled: after all, true love is bad for business. Gaston is likewise taken aback by Gigi's devotion -- until he realizes with startling suddenness that he has fallen for her. Long unavailable in the U.S. due to the Oscar-winning MGM musical remake, Gigi happily resurfaced on American cable television in the mid-1990s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvonne de Bray, Danièle Delorme, (more)
- 1943
Eternal Return (L'Eternel Retour) translates the Tristan and Isolde legend into contemporary (e.g. 1939) terms. The Tristan counterpart, Patrice (Jean Marais), falls in love with the modern-day Isolde, named Nathalie. Actually he has fallen for two Nathalies: when Nathalie I (Madeleine Sologne) spurns his offer of marriage, he turns his attentions to Nathalie II (Junie Astor). Still carrying a torch for Nathalie I, Patrice attempts a nocturnal rendezvous with his true love on the eve of his wedding. Because of a tragic blunder, Patrice and Nathalie I are reunited only in death. The dream-like quality of Eternal Return is due more to the input of screenwriter Jean Cocteau than director Jean Delannoy. The film, with its mystical trappings and ethereal performances, can now be viewed as a precursor to Cocteau's own Beauty and the Beast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Marais, Madeleine Sologne, (more)
