Simone Bourday Movies
- 1940
Released several times under several titles in the U.S. during WWII, Apres Mein Kampf Mes Crimes (aka My Crimes After Mein Kampf) was perhaps the last anti-Nazi film produced in France before the Germans moved into Paris. The film traces the life story of Adolph Hitler, from his first involvement in fascist activities to his takeover of most of Europe. The story ends on a hopeful note, delineating the possibility of Hitler's imminent downfall (which, alas, was still 5 years in the future). Actual photographs and newsreel shots of Der Fuhrer's rise to power are utilized, with various continuity gaps plugged by re-enactments. One can only speculate on the fates of the various production personnel involved in the making of Apres Mein Kampf Mes Crimes, many of whom simply vanished from the face of the earth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Line Noro, Simone Bourday, (more)
- 1936
One of the earliest French color films, La Terre qui Meurt (The Land That Dies) tells the story of farmer Luminau (Pierre Larquey) and his restless offspring. Hoping to keep his sons and daughters home with him so that they can eventually take over his farm, Luminau is both angered and disillusioned when they leave him one by one. The story then goes off in several tangents, detailing the hardships (and occasional triumphs) facing Luminau's progeny as they assert their independence. The most tragic of the subplots concerns the farmer's daughter Felicite (Germaine Sablon), who is ultimately forced into a life of prostitution. The Francia Color process tends to blur the images, but nothing can dull the edge of the film's poignancy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Line Noro, Simone Bourday, (more)
- 1934
Filmed in French Morocco, Itto's dialogue is spoken primarily in the tribal Chleuh language. The jingoistic story concerns a series of clashes between French occupational forces and a rebellious Chleuh chieftain. Itto (Simone Berriau), chief's daughter, becomes embroiled in a romance with a Moroccan tribesman who has gone over to the French side. It is implied in Itto that it's okay to betray one's own people if it will preserve French colonialism in Africa. To modern viewers, the rampant chauvinism in Itto is a difficult pill to swallow. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1933
Un De La Montagne (Mountain Man) stars Gustave Diesel as the title character, a young mountaineer named Jacques. Offered a huge sum if he successfully completes a dangerous climb, Jacques heads to the Swiss Alps, where all of his predecessors have met with disaster and/or death. According to contemporary reviewers, this is one of the few films to successfully capture the euphoria of mountain climbing; alas, currently available prints are far from pristine, dulling the film's impact. Real-life climbers, guides and skiers, most of them well known to European audiences, play "themselves." This film would make an ideal companion piece for Disney's 1959 actioner Third Man on the Mountain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Bourday, Maximilienne, (more)
- 1932
Galeries Levy et Cie (The Levy Department Stores) was a sequel to the popular ethnic comedy Levy and Company. Leon Bellieres and Charles Lamy repeat their roles as the Levy Brothers, Solomon and Moses. Now in charge of a department-store chain, the Levys never let their success get in the way of their constant kvetching. Hoping to increase their wealth by marrying off their niece to a continental charmer, the brothers allow the girl to chart her own romantic course when her would-be husband turns out to be a fraud. As was the case with the earlier film, Galeries Levy et Cie contained a great deal of Jewish-stereotype humor which might seem offensive today. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Belieres, Christiane Dor, (more)
- 1931
Victor de Fleury (Rene Lefebvre), a handsome young nobleman, has fallen upon hard times. Victor is hired by wealthy but uneducated industrialist Edgar Flachon (Pierre Brasseur), who is in love with an aristocratic young lady (Alice Ael). Feeling inadequate in his sweetheart's presence, Edgar requests that Victor accompany him to the girl's family's home for a weekend party. No, Victor is not to teach Edgar the proper social graces: His assignment is to behave in such a cloddish manner that Edgar will seem to be a prize catch in comparison. Given this premise, is it any surprise who the girl eventually ends up with? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Brasseur, Gabrielle Fontan, (more)
- 1930
The Sweetness of Loving is the English-language title of this French musical comedy (based on a novel by A. Dieudonne). Victor Boucher delivers an on-target performance as Albert Dumontier, a ceramics engineer who dabbles in songwriting. Dumontier's cousin Rene (Henri Bose) takes it upon himself to publish several of Albert's songs under a fictional name. By the time Albert finds out about this, he's become enmeshed in the intrigues hatched by Rene's wife Germaine (Rene Devillers), who is attempting to prove that her husband is unfaithful. Adding curry to the stew is the fact that Germaine and Albert had once been sweethearts -- and they still haven't got over one another. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renee Devillers, Alice Roberts, (more)
