Annie Fratellini Movies
Annie Fratellini was one of the few women to find success in the male-dominated world of circus clowns. She occasionally appeared in feature films, notably Le Grand Amour, Federico Fellini's The Clowns (1970), and Henry and June (1990). Born in French Algiers to a famed circus family, Fratellini launched her career with the Medrano and Pinder circuses when she was 14. Much later in her career, Fratellini would found one of Europe's first circus schools. On June 30, 1997, she died of cancer at age 64. Fratellini is survived by her husband, filmmaker Pierre Etaix. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
- NC17
The real-life relationship between two of the most controversial literary figures of the 20th century forms the basis for this drama. Anaïs Nin (Maria de Medeiros) is a struggling author trying to finish her first book, a study of the work of D.H. Lawrence. She also has a keen sexual curiosity that is not being satisfied by her sweet but unexciting husband, Hugo (Richard E. Grant). Through Hugo's friend Richard (Kevin Spacey), Anaïs is introduced to Henry Miller (Fred Ward), a writer from America who shares Anaïs' passion for both eros and literature; she is later introduced to June (Uma Thurman), Henry's wife and a practicing bisexual. While Anaïs is attracted to Henry, to her surprise, she's even more strongly drawn to June; June, however, must return to America, and with her approval, Henry and Anaïs begin an affair. Anaïs' newfound sense of sexual liberation leads her to several new lovers over the next several months, but she and Henry find themselves pursuing the same object of affection when June returns to Paris. Henry & June's frank but tasteful treatment of sexual themes led the MPAA to threaten the film with an X-rating; instead, the film became the first feature released with the revised NC-17 classification. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria de Medeiros, Fred Ward, (more)
- 1970
The culmination of filmmaker Federico Fellini's lifelong love affair with circus folk was his 1971 The Clowns (I clowns). Fellini's alter ego this time is a young boy, taking in his first circus (again, we're treated to the "parade" motif so often utilized by the director). As the clowns go through their rollicking routines, Fellini takes the time to snipe at movie critics by having one humorless newspaperman, who keeps repeating "What does it mean?", inundated with pails of water. There is also a fleeting homage to Charlie Chaplin in the form of Chaplin's daughter Victoria, who portrays an auditioning clown. Made for Italian TV, The Clowns sustains its exuberance by taking absolutely nothing seriously--not even Fellini, who makes fun of himself throughout in the guise of a pretentious documentary filmmaker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Riccardo Billi, Fanfulla, (more)
- 1969
A young man nervously waits in a church on his wedding day. His daydream splashes time forward 10 years as he finds himself married and working for his father-in-law. He has a brief but profound affair with a new secretary before returning to his wife. His nocturnal dreams have his bed taking off like an automobile cruising to exotic locales with beautiful women. He passes other men in beds on their way to destinations they will only reach in their dreams. His wife expresses a desire for a vacation and her bed turns into a train in this film that relies heavily on symbolism. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Etaix, Annie Fratellini, (more)
- 1965
It is only with some reluctance that big-time hood Alphonse (Lino Ventura) allows himself to be persuaded that a major painting-theft planned by some formerly small-time gangsters is a good idea. He gives the idea his backing and support and winds up holding the bag for the crime as the others escape. On emerging from prison, he wreaks havoc on his betrayers, until a pretty girl stops him in his tracks. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lino Ventura, Charles Aznavour, (more)
- 1961
This standard comedy was one of the last films by director René Clair, who began his career in 1922! The story deals with two real-estate developers who try to buy up one particular town noted for the long life of its residents. A nearby spring may have something to do with their longevity, and the real-estate men plan on exploiting the concept for all its worth. But there are problems. One of the local men decides he is never going to sign over his property to anyone. The land developers try all kinds of tricks to finish up their deal but so much of what they do backfires -- even when it looks like the final signing has arrived. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bourvil, Alfred Adam, (more)
- 1960
The lighthearted comedy Zazie Dans Le Metro, an early directorial effort from Louis Malle, stars Catherine Demongeot as a 12-year-old girl named Zazie. Zazie is forced to travel to Paris when her mother wants to rendezvous with her lover. Zazie is left in the care of Uncle Gabriel (Philippe Noiret), an eccentric transvestite. Both with him, and on her own, Zazie meets a variety of unusual city dwellers, and gets into a series of misadventures that reach their greatest level of wackiness during a café food fight. The film is based on a novel by the distinguished French author Raymond Queneau. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Demongeot, Philippe Noiret, (more)
- 1958
As the title indicates, this Renato Rascel vehicle is a takeoff of the Jules Dassin "caper" film Rififi. Rascel plays a nightclub owner who falls in with a gang of thieves, headed by quirky mastermind Dario Fo. After several comic preliminaries, the gang embarks upon a meticulously pre-planned jewel robbery. Not surprisingly, with Rascel involved, the plan does not exactly go off like clockwork. For those not interested in comedy or crime melodrama, Rascel-Fifi offers the considerable charms of the pulchritudinous Franca Rame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renato Rascel, Dario Fo, (more)
