Marthe Mercadier Movies
- 1979
- PG
Playwright Frank D. Gilroy wrote and directed this subtle, down-to-earth and autobiographical depiction of an American screenwriter in Paris who befriends his chauffeur and has an affair with a British aristocrat. Wayne Rogers is Michael Moore, an American scenario writer who has traveled to Paris for the first time in his life in order to serve as a script doctor on a troubled film script. Upon arriving at the airport, he's met by his driver Jean-Paul Barbet (Jack Lenoir Gilroy's real-life chauffeur), who has served time in prison for manslaughter. Michael is assured that his chauffeur will be immediately replaced with a driver without a prison record, but Michael lets him stay, and the two become fast friends. All is going along swimmingly until Michael meets his hotel neighbor, attractive upper-class British woman Susan Townsend (Gayle Hunnicutt). ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wayne Rogers, Gayle Hunnicutt, (more)
- 1978
Blue Jeans is a French coming-of-age film set in England. A group of French schoolboys conspire to lose their virginity while visiting the British isles (thereby reversing the usual procedure) The most impressionable of the lads learns a little more about life and love than simply the sexual aspects. Otherwise, this film titillates on a level almost as immature as its protagonists. The video version of Blue Jeans is unrated. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gilles Budin, Michel Gibert, (more)
- 1958
Christa Winsloe's novel Maedchen in Uniform was first filmed in Germany in 1933. The story, about a sensitive schoolgirl's lesbian attachment to her headmistress, was handled tastefully, albeit with remarkable frankness for its period. The 1958 remake is somewhat toned down and the material directed in a routine fashion, though technically the production has fewer frayed edges than the 1933 version. Romy Schneider stars in the old Hertha Thiele role as the student, while Lili Palmer takes over from Dorothea Wieck as the older woman. Made in 1958, the remake of Maedchen in Uniform was not released in the U.S. until 1965, possibly because it went against the production code edict concerning "suicide as a plot solution." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilli Palmer, Romy Schneider, (more)
- 1958
Two well-known actors (Martine Carol and Vittorio De Sica) star in this standard melodrama by Alberto Cavalcanti about two people out for adventure and money in Venice. As they pursue the goals they think they want, they discover a blossoming of romantic love. Next, they have to choose between continuing their life on the edge, or a less-financially comfortable life safely together. Their decision, in the end, seems like a foregone conclusion. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martine Carol, Vittorio De Sica, (more)
- 1957
Dany Carrel essays the title role in Elisa. Set in 19th-century Paris, the film details the friendship between likeable streetwalker Elisa and a blind street organist, played by Serge Reggiani. Things take a melodramatic turn early on when Elisa is arrested because of her mother's illegal abortion racket. Too "soiled" for any respectable lover, Elisa turns to Reggiani, who is unaware of her profession. Alas, when he learns the truth, his baser instincts overtake him, and tragedy results. Elisa was based on a novel by Edomond de Goncourt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dany Carrel, Serge Reggiani, (more)
- 1957
The literal translation of Le Feu aux Poudres is The Burning Fuse. The title itself is symbolic, referring to the fact that time is running out for its protagonist, undercover policeman Raymond Pellegrin. Infiltrating a gang of gunrunners, Pellegrin makes a tactical error by falling in love with the gang-leader's moll (Francoise Fabian). As much a musical as an actioner, Le Feu aux Poudres even allows one of the villains (Dario Moreno) to burst into song! Le Feu aux Poudres represented writer-director Henri Decoin's return to films after a two-year absence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Raymond Pellegrin, Françoise Fabian, (more)
- 1955
The title of this French prison drama loosely translates to Heels Go to Hell. Making his directorial debut, Robert Hossein also assumes the leading role, playing an escaped convict. Hossein and his fellow escapees cross the path of Marina Vlady, with whom they all fall in love. Alas for our "heroes," Vlady intends to avenge the death of her sweetheart at the hands of Hossein and his confreres. Not only do these heels go to Hell, but they do so with a spectacular flourish. Les Salauds Vont en Enfer was adapted by Rene Wheeler from a play by Frederic Dard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marina Vlady, Henri Vidal, (more)
- 1954
The French/Italian Obsession was based on a novel by American suspense writer William Irish (aka Cornell Woolrich). Michelle Morgan and Raf Vallone are carnival performers, touring the provinces with a successful trapeze act. Though Morgan knows that Vallone is on the lam from a murder charge, she marries him anyway. When Vallone is sidelined by an injury, he is replaced by handsome young aerialist Jean Gaven, an unsuspecting friend of the man Vallone killed. Gaven is himself bumped off before long, prompting the disillusioned Morgan to turn over Vallone to the authorities. As it turns out, we're in Postman Always Rings Twice territory: Vallone didn't kill Gaven, but by the time the guilty party confesses, the police have confirmed that Vallone was responsible for the earlier murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1953
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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Dany Robin, (more)
- 1952
Martine Carol, the star of the popular period romp Caroline Cherie, once more dons low-cut 18th-century gowns for the 1953 sequel Un Caprice de Caroline Cherie. This time, the toothsome Caroline arrives in Italy with her military officer husband Salange (Jacques Dacquimine). When the country is thrown into turmoil by a political upheaval, Caroline and Salange are rescued by countess Pauline (Vera Norman), who has designs on the husband. Jealous, Caroline decides to dally with handsome ballet-dancer Olivio (Jean-Claude Pascal). It's upstairs, downstairs, in m'lady's chamber for the next eight reels. American distribution of Un Caprice de Caroline Cherie was boosted by the presence in the film of several curvaceous young ladies wearing very little indeed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martine Carol, Jean Pascal, (more)
