Henri-Jacques Huet Movies
- 1986
In this semi-autobiographical comedy by Francis Perrin, he plays a character partially based on himself in the guise of Francois Veber, a lowly electrician from the provinces who finds success as an actor in the Comedie-Francaise. Veber/Perrin goes to study acting at the Paris Conservatoire and has some fine teachers who help to hone his latent comic abilities. After coming to the attention of his superiors as an excellent student (he won a Conservatoire competition with a monologue from "The Marriage of Figaro"), Veber/Perrin is accepted into the prestigious Comedie-Francaise. Defying the judgment of its administrator, he pulls off a rousing interpretation of Moliere's Scapin. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francis Perrin, Christiane Jean, (more)
- 1986
Commissioner Stan Jalard (Jean-Paul Belmondo) takes in his godson after the boy's father, who is also Stan's police partner, is murdered in this routine action thriller. Stan chases the heavy until he catches up with him. He levies his gun on the killer as he decides whether to shoot him or let him spend life in prison. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean-Pierre Malo, (more)
- 1982
Despite a fast-paced story that slams the broadcast industry and lotto mentality, this sci-fi action thriller emphasizes action over anxiety, and so its hunt-and-kill premise is less exciting than it sounds. Based on a Robert Sheckley tale, the action is brought about by a television show invented by money-motivated executives with ratings on the brain. The idea is to choose someone from the vast sea of the unemployed and cast them as the "hunted," while five others are the "hunters." The prey receives a million dollars if he or she can outsmart the five hunters, and a hunter gets $100,000 for finding and killing their human target. François Jacquemard (Gerard Lanvin) is chosen to be the man who has to outsmart the five hitmen, and when he proves to be too good at it, the TV executives have to find a way to outsmart him. All the drama, from beginning to end, is played out under the watchful eyes of multiple TV cameras, on the ground and in the air, while blood-thirsty viewers stay glued to their sets like Romans watching the gladiators -- but unlike the Romans, they are regularly interrupted by those annoying commercial breaks. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Lanvin, Michel Piccoli, (more)
- 1981
In French filmmaker Bertrand Blier's seriocomic Beau Pere, Ariel Besse plays a 14-year-old girl who is perversely attracted to her 30-year-old stepfather (Patrick Dewaere). Daddy fends off these unnatural attentions, but eventually gives in and allows himself to be seduced. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Dewaere, Ariel Besse, (more)
- 1979
This is a French-made disco-music musical comedy. Some who should be credited for the music and lyrics are: Robert Bonnaire, Iser, Dominique Rousseau, and J-P Lowf Legoff. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Manzetti, Eric Rawson, (more)
Claude Chabrol's Violette was based on the true story of 19-year-old Violette Noziere, who in the 1930s was tried and convicted for the poisoning of her father and the attempted murder of her mother. As played by Isabelle Huppert (who won several awards for her performance), Violette is a thrill-seeking girl who falls for a no-good slug from the slums of Paris. Anxious to give money to her lover, Violette hatches the patricide scheme in order to inherit her father's fortune. But Violette's mother, played as an deglamorized drudge by the otherwise stunning Stephane Audran, is not so easily disposed of; it is her testimony that condemns Violette, first to the guillotine, then to a commuted life sentence. In emulation of his idol Alfred Hitchcock, director Chabrol manages to evoke a measure of sympathy and audience identification for his thoroughly dislikable leading character. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isabelle Huppert, Jean Carmet, (more)
- 1975
This crime thriller is about a psychotic who makes obscene phone calls to beautiful women and then murders them. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Denner, (more)
- 1973
Marcello Mastrioanni stars as an aging actor whose career has dwindled to TV commercials. Seeking an anchor in his life, Mastrioanni attempts a reconciliation with his ex-wife. But in this, as in his professional life, Mastrioanni is doomed to disillusionment and failure. Salut L'Artiste should be required viewing for every college theatre class in the country, but we know that it won't be; who among us wants to admit that dreams don't always come true? Director Yves Robert, best known for his Marcel Pagnol adaptations, both produced and co-scripted Salut L'Artiste. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marcello Mastroianni, Françoise Fabian, (more)
Claude Sautet's romantic drama César et Rosalie (Cesar and Rosalie) stars Romy Schneider as Rosalie, a beautiful young woman happily married to successful businessman Cesar (Yves Montand). One day, Rosalie's former flame David (Sami Frey) appears and attempts to win her back. Cesar reacts with a jealous intensity never before seen by Rosalie, and because of that, she returns to David. She remains conflicted as to with whom she should be, but eventually, one of the men does something which resolves the situation. César et Rosalie contains one of the first screen appearances of French actress Isabelle Huppert. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Romy Schneider, Yves Montand, (more)
- 1969
Diane (Jean Moreau) is married to an architect (Charles Denner) in this situation comedy. The two met in Czechoslovakia before marrying and moving to France. He becomes extremely jealous when he suspects her of having a Lesbian affair with a ballet dancer. His incessant questions and insane jealousy make Diane resentful to the point she considers pushing him off a cliff. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeanne Moreau, Charles Denner, (more)
A successful ad man engages in illicit affairs in this romantic comedy satire. Serge (Serge Gainsbourg) is an annual winner at the advertising awards festival held annually in Venice. When he meets the pretty British woman Evelyne (Jane Birkin), he sets her up in an apartment and plans to leave his pregnant wife. The newfound love of the immensely shallow couple is shattered when Evelyne runs off to marry a speedboat racer. Serge continues working for the advertising firm and continues his search for love affairs without commitment ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin, (more)
- 1967
In this mysterious crime drama, a down-and-out Parisian woman finds herself entangled in a white slavery-narcotics ring. They send her on a boat for South America. There she gets engaged to a sailor, and upon her arrival decides to fight against those who have enslaved her. She suffers terribly, but eventually she learns that the mysterious stranger who has been causing friction between rival rings is a clever Interpol agent on assignment to destroy the gang. This allows the woman to return to her beloved; happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In this unexceptional whodunit, Michel Galabru appears in one of his earlier roles as the police inspector sent to investigate the murder of a young woman on the beach. The setting is the French Riviera where the widow Georgina (Martine Carol) presides over her family of two teen-age children and a dotty father-in-law. In addition, there is the visiting student from Germany who happens to be her secret lover, and their gardener, the father of the murder victim. The inspector has to ferret out the clues that will eventually lead him to the killer in this odd group of people -- though the audience is likely to be two steps ahead of him. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martine Carol, Genevieve Grad, (more)
This controversial spy-romance tale by Jean-Luc Godard was banned from release in France for three years because it refers to the use of torture on both the French and Algerian sides during the Algerian struggle for independence. The story focuses on Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor), a young, disillusioned man who becomes involved in politics, yet in spite of the fact that he stands up to torture and commits murder because of this involvement, he does not have deep political beliefs. Also featured is his lover Veronica Dreyer (Anna Karina, then-wife of director Jean-Luc Godard appearing in her first film) as a motivating factor in Bruno's behavior. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Subor, Anna Karina, (more)
The first feature film directed by Jean-Luc Godard and one of the seminal films of the French New Wave, Breathless is story of the love between Michel Poiccard, a small-time hood wanted for killing a cop, and Patricia Franchini, an American who sells the International Herald Tribune along the boulevards of Paris. Their relationship develops as Michel hides out from a dragnet. Breathless uses the famous techniques of the French New Wave: location shooting, improvised dialogue, and a loose narrative form. In addition Godard uses his characteristic jump cuts, deliberate "mismatches" between shots, and references to the history of cinema, art, and music. Much of the film's vigor comes from collisions between popular and high culture: Godard shows us pinups and portraits of women by Picasso and Renoir, and the soundtrack includes both Mozart's clarinet concerto and snippets of French pop radio. When Breathless was first released, audiences and critics responded to the burst of energy it gave the French cinema; it won numerous international awards and became an unexpected box-office sensation. ~ Louis Schwartz, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, (more)
- 1959
Jean-Louis Trintignant's star was just rising when he took on the role of Carlo in this engrossing wartime coming-of-age story. Carlo is a young man living in his own world and blithely inattentive to the real war that is happening not very far away. This is particularly striking because he is the son of a high-level fascist. The year is 1943 and he has gone to a seaside resort on vacation where he meets the beautiful, older widow Roberta (Eleonora Rossi Drago). Carlo is smitten and in spite of various obstacles, he and Roberta enter into a romantic liaison. Then one day Allied forces land on the coast and Carlo is faced with the realities of war and a reassessment of his life. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eleonora Rossi-Drago, Jean-Louis Trintignant, (more)
