Germaine Aussey Movies

Based on a stage play by D'Hennequin and Veber, the saucy 1936 sex farce Avez Vous N'Avez Rien a Declarer? was released in the US five years later as Confessions of a Newlywed. The original title translates as Having You Nothing to Declare, a double-entendre referring to the sexual prowess-or lack thereof-of entymologist Pierre Brasseur. Overly preoccupied with his work, Brasseur seems unwilling or unable to satisfy the carnal urges of his young bride Sylvia Battalie. When a week passes without marital consummation, Brasseur asks Battalie's scientist father Raimu for advice. A subsequent visit to a psychiatrist and a nightclub, followed by a tete-a-tete with Brasseur's former lover (Germaine Aussey), seems to straighten things out (if that is the appropriate choice of words), while the connubial progress of the newlyweds is paralleled (and gently mocked) by a pair of insects in Brasseur's laboratory. Confessions of a Newlywed was directed by Leo Joannon, who seems far more at home with this sort of material than he would with Laurel & Hardy in 1951's Atoll K. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally titled Les Perles de Couronne, this Sacha Guitry historical extravaganza stars both Guitry and his wife Jacqueline Delubac. The plotline hinges on four valuable pearls, which pass from hand to hand over a period of several centuries, from the time of Britain's Henry VIII to the present. All of this is offered in flashback form, as a group of modern-day treasure hunters try to locate three of the missing pearls by tracing them back to their previous owners. Guitry shows up as King Francis I, Barras and Napoleon III, in addition to his contemporary persona of Jean Martin; Debulac is seen as Mary Queen of Scots and Empress Josephine. There isn't a scintilla of historical accuracy in the film, nor did Guitry have the slightest intention of including any; his sole purpose was to entertain the audience and serve up a superbly ironic denoument. The supporting cast is a polyglot of French, English and Italian actors, each speaking in his or her own language. The screenplay for Pearls of the Crown was cowritten by Guitry and another immensely talented filmmaker, Christian-Jaque. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmed in Czechoslovakia, this French-language adaptation of the oft-filmed Jewish folk tale The Golem was one of the most expensive productions ever made in that country. The story, which some have cited as a precursor to Frankenstein, is set in Prague's Jewish Ghetto. Fearing an anti-Semitic pogrom at the hands of Emperor Rudolf (Harry Baur), Rabbi Jacob (Charles Dorat) magically brings a statue to life to protect his people from harm. Known as "Die Golem," the living statue (Ferdinand Hart) does indeed save the Jews from destruction, but in so doing becomes a creature of destruction itself -- until it is tamed by the one person who does not fear him. The American release print of The Golem retained most of its spectacle, but several of the more bloodcurdling scenes -- including a lengthy torture-chamber episode -- were removed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Princesse Tam-Tam is a must-see for fans of legendary African-American entertainer Josephine Baker. Shunned by lily-white Hollywood, Baker made a name for herself in France as a cabaret entertainer, frequently comporting in the nude--all the while letting the audience know she didn't take herself, or anything else, too seriously. Princesse Tam-Tam is a satirical spin on the "Pygamalion" concept: An uninhibited African girl (Baker) poses as a serene Indian princess, through the auspices of author Albert Prejean. A romance develops between the two (a plot device expressly forbidden by Hollywood's rules against miscegenation on screen), while Prejean's unfaithful wife fumes. Written by Josephine Baker's then-husband Pepito Abatino, the French/Tunisian Princesse Tam-Tam was banned outright in the States; thanks to videotape, it is now more accessible than ever. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A Certain Mr. Gran is the English-language title of this fast-paced espionage drama. Things literally start with a bang when a car is forced off an Alpine road and the driver is killed in a fiery crash. The assailant grabs a suitcase stuffed with secret papers from the wreckage, and the chase is on. The head villain, international spy Tschernikoff (Albert Basserman), manages to cover his tracks by posing as a harmless antiques dealer. But Tschernikoff ultimately proves to be no match for "a certain Mr. Gran" (Hans Albers), an undercover secret-service agent. Albers' portrayal of Mr. Gran as a wisecracking fashion plate with an eye for the ladies is a fascinating precursor to the James Bond school of spydom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though the story is tragic, the inner message of this drama is inspirational as it chronicles the travails of an impoverished young woman who is impregnated and abandoned by her lover. Soon after her baby is born, the woman experiences a few moments of joy. Unfortunately, the self-righteous village authorities take the baby away from her. Unable to bear the chastisement of her fellow villagers, the poor woman prays to a statue of the Madonna. She then dies and her spirit rises to heaven. There she becomes a loving guardian angel to her daughter and is able to stop her from making a similar mistake. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The second of director Julien Duvivier's sound pictures, Hier Spricht Berlin was also released as Allo Berlin? Ici Paris! Two male telephone operators from Berlin fall in love with two female receptionists in Paris, even though they've never met. After carrying on a "courtship by wire" for several months, the two heroes and the two heroines vow to meet each other face-to-face. Alas, some unexpected obstacle always seems to pop up to keep the boys and girls apart -- until the very, very end. This bilingual romantic comedy boasts an impressive continental cast, headed by Karel Stepanek. Wolfgang Klein, Josette Day and Germain Aussey (Stepanek, like director Duvivier, would later spend several years in Hollywood). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide