Simon Schiffrin Movies
Russian-born producer and production manager Simon Schiffrin began his long career in the French entertainment industry in the early '20s working on silent film productions such as Michel Strogoff (1926). He later became a production manager. During WWII, Schiffrin stayed in the United States. When France was freed, he returned to resume his film career. Later he became involved with television productions. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1967
Adapted from the novel by C. Virgil Gheorghiu, this satirical concentration-camp drama from Turkish-born French director Henri Verneuil stars Anthony Quinn as Johann Moritz, a Romanian peasant who experiences the horrors of World War II when the Nazis invade his country. Because local police chief Dobresco (Gregoire Aslan) is anamorous towards Moritz's wife Suzanna (Virna Lisi), he has the lowly fieldhand falsely labeled a Jew and sent to a work camp. Moritz's troubles continue to mount, as his wife is threatened with losing their property unless she divorces him. Also starring Michael Redgrave, La Vingt-cinquième heure is also known as The 25th Hour, though it should not be confused with and bears no resemblance to the 2002 Spike Lee film of the same name. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Virna Lisi, (more)
Black Tights is a filmed ballet anthology divided into four all-dance episodes. "The Diamond Cruncher" spotlights Ziza Jeanmaire as a lady mobster who gives up her life of crime for the love of a good man. "Cyrano de Bergerac" stars Roland Petit (who also choreographed) as Cyrano and Moira Shearer as Roxanne; its music was composed by Marius Constant, of Twilight Zone fame. "A Merry Mourning" finds Cyd Charisse flittering her way into a deadly romantic triangle. And "Carmen," starring Jeanmaire once more, is the old story, danced rather than sung to the music of Bizet. Both the French and English-language versions of Black Tights are narrated by Maurice Chevalier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zizi Jeanmaire, Moira Shearer, (more)
Adapted from a novel by Jacques Prevert, Port of Shadows (Quai des brumes) stars that eternal victim of society, Jean Gabin. Having deserted the French army, Gabin ducks into a back alley and meets the lovely Michelle Morgan. He becomes her champion by taking on her evil "protectors" (Michel Simon, Pierre Brasseur), but loses his last bid for freedom--and his life--in the process. Irredeemably gloomy, Port of Shadows was a primary influence in the "film noir" genre pursued by Hollywood in the 1940s. The film was the first of three collaborations between writer Jacques Prevert and director Marcel Carne, culminating in the incomparable Les Enfants du Paradis (1944). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Jean Gabin, (more)
- 1933
The great Harry Baur plays the title character in Cette Vielle Canaille -- which translates as "That Old Bum"! But he's no bum at the beginning of the picture: In fact, he's a retired doctor/chemist who spends his spare time conducting medical experiments on small lab animals. Looking for new specimens, Baur visits a circus, where he falls hopelessly in love with vain performer Alice Field. Inevitably, she leaves him in favor of a younger, handsomer man, whereupon Baur goes into an emotional tailspin. In the incredibly tense finale, Field must undergo a delicate operation -- which only Baur can perform! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alice Field, Christiane Dor, (more)
- 1931
Based on a novel by Helen Nimirosky, The Ball was filmed simultaneously in German and French-language versions. The French adaptation, Le Bal, served to introduce 14-year-old Danielle Darrieux to the picture-going public. Darrieux plays the daughter of a pair of delicatessen owners who suddenly come into a huge sum of money. Striving to buy their way into society, the couple utterly neglects their daughter, who naturally grows resentful. When they plan to throw a huge fancy-dress ball to curry favor with the glitterati, Darrieux gets even by destroying all of the invitations, and as a result no one shows up. This results in a near-breakup for the couple, but eventually they realize that their daughter has done them an enormous favor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucie Mannheim, Germaine Dermoz, (more)
