Paul Meurisse Movies
Usually described as a "French general purpose actor," Paul Meurisse left clerical work for a music-hall career. He began making films in 1941, but was relatively unknown until his engagement to famed French songstress Edith Piaf, through whose sponsorship he attained better movie roles. Like most of Piaf's impulsive romances, Meurisse was soon discarded, but he managed to do quite well for himself in semi-serious character roles. Paul Meurisse's most famous screen role was as the apparently murdered husband in Henri-Georges Clouzot's labyrinthine thriller Diabolique (1954). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1959
Jean Renoir never made any secret that Picnic on the Grass (Le Dejeuner sur L'Herbe) was inspired by the impressionist paintings of his father Auguste Renoir, and also of Edouard Monet. The near-surrealistic plotline concerns priggish US presidential candidate Paul Meurisse, who carries on a sterile, clinical courtship with Ingrid Nordine. Proposing that he and Nordine have an image-boosting "picnic on the grass", the scientifically-oriented Meurisse is distracted by the visceral charms of country girl Catherine Rouvel. Previously a strong advocate of "artificial sex", Meurisse changes his mind after dallying with the lusty Rouvel. Almost childlike in its approach to the material at hand, Picnic on the Grass is one of Renoir's most playful efforts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Meurisse, Catherine Rouvel, (more)
- 1959
In this standard tale of a gold-hearted prostitute and her difficulties, Zizi Jeanmaire plays Guinguette, the former lady of the evening who has abandoned her profession for a better life. She finally has the means to open up a bar and dancehall away from the city but just when everything seems to be going well, trouble happens. Gangsters intrude on her life and although she should be happy because she's fallen in love with a great man, that is a rocky road too. The nubile, sixteen-year-old Maryse (Maria-Christina Gajoni) is determined to take Guinguette's love away from her. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zizi Jeanmaire, Jean Pascal, (more)
- 1958
Echec au Porteur (Not Delivered) is a nail-biting suspense tale in the Hitchcock manner. The disgruntled protagonist decides to kill an old enemy with a bomb concealed in a football. The bomb is misdelivered, ending up in the hands of a young boy. The rest of the picture is a race against time as the boy innocently plays with his pigskin booby trap. Co-adapted by Noel Calaf from his own novel, Echec au Porteur boasts excellent performances from Jeanne Moreau, Serge Reggiani, Paul Meurisse and Gert Froebe; incredibly, Variety felt that the cast lacked "name value." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Serge Reggiani, Jeanne Moreau, (more)
- 1958
La Tete Contre Les Muirs (U.S. title: The Keepers) was director Georges Franju's 2nd cinematic offering for 1958, and his first purely fictional film. Franju's prior training in documentaries helps to bring a veneer of reality to this harrowing glimpse within the walls of an insane asylum. Pierre Brasseur plays Marbeau, a traditionalist "head doctor" who takes on the case of young Francois (Jean-Paul Mocky). Though not really insane, Francois has been institutionalized for daring to defy his wealthy father. The story is told from Francois' point of view, as he teeters on the edge of madness during his involuntary internment. The film is essentially a plea for more sensible treatment of the mentally disturbed and the emotionally distressed, calling for much-needed widespread reforms -- something that, alas, was not readily forthcoming in the late 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Brasseur, Paul Meurisse, (more)
- 1958
Though the title of this French drama translates to Seventh Heaven, it bears no relation to the classic 1927 silent film of the same name. Danielle Darieaux plays a widowed philanthropist with a most unorthodox method of raising money for her many charities. Courted by con men and sharpsters, Danielle turns the tables by persuading these men to invest their money in her pet stocks. She then murders her erstwhile suitors with the help of her old flame Noel-Noel. Ten "contributors" go the way of all flesh before the film comes to its unexpected (but very amusing) denouement. Based on a novel by Andre Lang, Le Septieme Ciel bears a marked resemblance to the 1961 Ernie Kovacs vehicle Five Golden Hours. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danielle Darrieux, Noël-Noël, (more)
- 1957
This French crime melodrama was released outside of Europe as Until the Last One. The film begins with a daring robbery, masterminded by a gang of clever thieves. Unfortunately, once the heist is a fait accompli, the crooks begin bickering with one another. Gradually, the crooks kill each other off until only two are left. The thrilling climax takes place in a gaudy travelling carnival. Enabling Jusqu'au Ernier to get good American bookings was the presence of leading lady Jeanne Moreau, here enticingly cast as a sideshow dancer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Raymond Pellegrin, Jeanne Moreau, (more)
- 1955
Fortune Carree (Square Fortune) was co-adapted by director Bernard Borderie from the novel by Joseph Kessel. Mexican film-favorite Pedro Armendariz plays Igricheff, an undisciplined soldier who opts for the life of a mercenary. Operating out of the North African desert, Igricheff offers his services to a French arms smuggler (Paul Meurisse). Betrayed by his "partner," Igricheff is left to face his fate alone, which he does with a philosophical shrug. A dash of feminine interest is provided by Anna-Marie Sandri as a native lovely whom Igricheff purchases during his journey across the desert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pedro Armendáriz, Folco Lulli, (more)
- 1955
L'Affair des Poisons is an unusual murder yarn, set during the reign of France's King Louis XIV. Danielle Darrieux stars as Mme. De Montespan, who is, to use the common 17th century euphemism, a "favorite" of the French monarch. When she is cast aside by His Majesty, Mme. De Montespan schemes to discredit her rival for Louis' affections. Conspiring with defrocked priest Guibourg (Paul Meurisse) and fortune teller La Voisin (Vivienne Romance), the "heroine" begins to poison a number of aristocrats close to the king, then plants evidence suggesting that her rival is responsible. The film accommodates any number of lurid (but historically accurate) sequences, including a harrowing torture-chamber episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danielle Darrieux, Viviane Romance, (more)
- 1955
La Castiglione is set in 19th-century Italy during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III. The only way for Italy to declare her independence from Napoleon is to form a united front -- a monumental task, in that the various provinces aren't all that fond of each other. La Castilogne, played by Yvonne de Carlo, is the lover of firebrand Italian revolutionary Georges Marchal. When Marchal's efforts to unite Italy result in his arrest and condemnation, La Castilogne offers herself to Napoleon in exchange for her sweetheart's life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvonne De Carlo, Georges Marchal, (more)
The greatest film that Alfred Hitchcock never made, Henri-Georges Clouzot's Diabolique is set in a provincial boarding school run by headmaster Michel Delasalle (Paul Meurisse). A ruthless lothario, he becomes the target of a murder plot concocted by his long-suffering invalid wife Christina (Vera Clouzot, the director's own spouse) and his latest mistress, an icy teacher played by Simone Signoret. A dark, dank thriller with a much-imitated "shock" ending, Diabolique is a masterpiece of Grand Guignol suspense. The simple murder plot goes haywire, and Michel's corpse disappears, prompting strange rumors of his reappearance which grow more and more substantial as the film careens wildly towards its breathless conclusion. Later remade as a greatly inferior 1996 Hollywood feature with Sharon Stone and Isabelle Adjani. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, (more)
- 1950
The English-language title of this French romantic drama is Maria of End of World. The title character, played by Denise Cardy, is the wife of self-styled naturalist Mathius (Paul Meurisse). Alas, Maria's husband spends more time with his beloved woodland creatures than with her. Yearning for a visit to the Big City, Maria leaves herself wide open for disillusionment and heartbreak. Maria du Bout du Monde was regarded as a potboiler when originally released in France; it was hardly regarded at all when released in the U.S. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Meurisse, Jacques Berthier, (more)
- 1948
The Red Angel is the name of a fancy French nightclub where most of this film's action transpires. The story concentrates on three individuals. Berval plays Tonio Beretta, who after a life of crime has decided to reform and go into the nightclub business. Paul Meurisse plays Pierre Mavignac, an escaped criminal who won't let Beretta forget his past. Tilda Thamar plays sexy chanteuse Rita Tyndar, who ungratefully dumps her benefactor Beretta in favor of the more exciting (and more dangerous) Pierre. It is giving nothing away to note that at least one of these three characters will be shot full of holes by film's end. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tilda Thamar, Paul Meurisse, (more)
- 1947
Danielle Darrieux stars as Arabella Delvaire in this baroque adaptation of Pierre Benoit's novel Bethshabee. Arabella is a woman of the world who arrives at a remote Foreign Legion outpost for a rendezvous with her current lover, Captain Duveuil. It so happens that one of Arabella's previous amours, Captain Somerville (Paul Meurisse), is also serving at the same post. So much for joining the Foreign Legion to forget. A climactic knife duel "solves" the film's various plot complications. Despite its Foreign Legion background, Bethsabee has next to no action, which must have made things difficult when the film was distributed to the U.S. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danielle Darrieux, Georges Marchal, (more)
