Gabrielle Dorziat Movies

Jackie Gleason plays Gigot, a lumbering but lovable mute Parisian derelict. Shunned by the "respectable" people around him, Gigot is beloved by the children. One of the kids, a little girl, is the melancholy daughter of an insensitive prostitute. Gigot befriends the lonely child and protects her against her wicked parent and the local constabulary. Gigot was heavily edited by 20th Century Fox prior to its release, and subsequently disowned by its director, Gene Kelly. Still, a few hilarious and genuinely poignant moments shine through in this Chaplinesque tour de force for Jackie Gleason, who not only starred but wrote the script and the musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This upteenth film version of the life of royal courtesan Madame Du Barry stars Martine Carol in the title role. Starting out as an ambitious shopgirl, our heroine catches the eye of the even more ambitious Count du Barry (Daniel Ivernei), who in turn brings the girl to the attention of King Louis XV (Andre Luguet). Enchanted by her beauty and forthrightness, Louis takes Mme. Du Barry as his mistress, indulging her every whim. Banished from the court of Versailles by Marie Antoinette, Du Barry ultimately falls victim to the French Revolution, but she has fun while she lasts. Director Christian-Jaque wittily frames his story in the form of a magic-lantern show. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Act of Love was based on The Girl on the Via Flamina, a novel by Alfred Hayes. Kirk Douglas plays an American soldier, participating in the 1944 liberation of France. Making the acquaintance of impoverished Parisian girl Dany Robin, Douglas takes pity on the girl, pretending to be married to her so that she won't be unfairly arrested as a prostitute. When Douglas attempts to make their union legal, he is denied permission by his superior officers. So far as they are concerned, Robin is just another little opportunist, marrying a GI in order to gain US citizenship. But Robin is genuinely in love with Douglas-and proves it, in a profoundly tragic manner. Producer/director Anatole Litvak and screenwriter Irwin Shaw do their best to bring some cinematic excitement to the somber goings-on. Act of Love represents the first appearance in an English-speaking film by Brigitte Bardot, here playing the minor role of "Mimi". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

La Verite sur Bebe Donge is another "socko" pure-entertainment vehicle from prolific French filmmaker Henri Decoin. The film stars Decoin's former wife Danielle Darrieux as the title character Bebe Donge, the wife of industrialist Francois Donge (Jean Gabin). Concerned only with surface values, Donge has taken Bebe as a "trophy bride," neither extending nor expecting any real affection. Bebe's frustration with this untenable domestic set-up inevitably leads to tragedy. A trick ending keeps the viewer on the edge of the chair right up to the fadeout. Originally running 124 minutes, La Verite sur Bebe Donge was trimmed considerably before its American release. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this French film, Nicole (dancer Violette Verday) must choose between three men. Her suitors are a jeweler (Henri Guisoi), a producer (Romney Brent), and a thief (Nicholas Orloff). Nicole imagines, in ballet terms, what life with each man would be like. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

Updated from Abbe Prevost's Manon Lescaut, this non-operatic version of the familiar tale stars Cecile Aubrey in the title role. Accused of collaborating with the Nazis during WW II, Manon Lescaut is rescued by Robert Desgrieux (Michel Auclair). Safely ensconced in Paris with Robert, Manon falls victim to the machinations of her dishonest brother Leon (Serge Reggiani). Once more Robert comes to her rescue then takes his love with him to Palestine. Director Henri-Georges Clouzot departs most radically from the Prevost original in the closing scenes, which concentrate on a group of Jewish war refugees. Obviously under the influence of American film noir, Clouzot takes great delight in concentrating on society's castaways in Manon. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The French Just a Big, Simple Girl strives to emulate Pirandello by blurring the line between artifice and reality. The scene is a theater, where a group of actors are performing in a play. We have already been informed that there is a real-life romantic triangle going on backstage, but the actors gamely act out their roles as if everything is okay. But everything becomes no-kay when a strange woman walks on stage and begins digressing from the script. Just a Big, Simple Girl was originally titled Une Grande Fille Toute Simple. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Ruy Blas was adapted for the screen by no less than Jean Cocteau. The title character, played by Jean Marais, is a dashing nobleman-turned-bandit operating in 17th century Spain ("played" by France and Italy). Marais is also seen as a bookish student who happens to bear a striking resemblance to Ruy Blas. Top-billed as the Queen of Spain is Danielle Darrieux, making her film comeback after weathering accusations of collaboration during WW2. A long and frequently verbose film, Ruy Blas delivers the goods and more during the action highlights and love scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi