Jean Parédès Movies

Max (Robert Morley) is a wealthy, world-class conoisseur of fine food, who cannot stop himself from eating when the food is first-class. His doctor has given him stern warnings that he must lose over one hundred pounds, or he will die of heart failure. The presence of so many four-star chefs in Europe is a hazard for him. When many of these same chefs are found murdered in inventive ways, each related to the chef's specialty, it begins to appear that Max is the prime suspect in their deaths. Meanwhile, the ex-wife (Jaqueline Bisset) of a fast-food tycoon (George Segal) has earned the right to cook the dessert course at a dinner billed as "the world's most fabulous meal." Despite their profound disagreements, he is worried that she will be one of the murderer's victims.This film, which was loved by some critics and hated by others, is based on the best-selling novel Someone is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe by Nan and Ivan Lyons. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Also known as La Fiancée du Pirate and Dirty Mary, this French comedy noir stars Bernadette Lafont as Marie, the title character. Early in the game, Marie learns how to use sex as a means to an end. She enjoys the favors of several of her town's leading citizens, not-too-subtly suggesting that her silence can be bought. Nearly driven out of town by the local moral arbiters, Marie strikes a blow against hypocrisy with a deliciously creative revenge. A Very Curious Girl is the sort of harmless French fare that used to pop up on your local Late Late Late Show in-between the Vegomatic ads and the "Live Better Electrically" public-service spots. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A notorious womanizer, fashion editor Michael James (Peter O'Toole) decides to seek the help of a psychiatrist when he begins to feel that his inability to commit to a relationship is adversely affecting his personal life. Desperate to remain faithful to his fiancée Carole (Romy Schneider), Michael enlists the help of Dr. Fassbinder (Peter Sellers), blissfully unaware that as Dr. Fassbinder is making the moves on a patient who secretly longs for the seemingly irresistible Michael. As Michael and Carole check into the Chateau Chantelle in hopes of patching up their relationship, Dr. Fassbinder has also arrived at the Chateau in hopes of finally cementing his relationship with the comely patient. As the two couples check into the hotel, disaster looms just beyond the bend in a series of hilarious mishaps that will test both Michael's faithfulness and Dr. Fassbinder's sanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

La Garconne was based on a once-scandalous novel by Victor Marguerite. Set in Paris in the 1920s, the film stars Andree Debar as a rebellious lass who believes that the "double standard" concerning men and women should be abolished. Thus she makes love to as many partners as she wishes, without ever falling in love. Eventually, of course, she finds a soul-mate for life, but not before a good time is had by practically all. La Garconne ran into some censorship interference in the U.S. because of a discreetly handled homosexual subtext. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Producer/director Sacha Guitry's contribution to the 1956 film season was the free-flowing historical pageant Si Paris Nous Etait Conte (If Paris Were Told to Us). Guitry himself appears as the ghost of King Louis XI, who relates the story of Paris to a group of fascinated modern-day students. As usual, Guitry manages to "humanize" history by depicting the great men and women of France in amusing warts-and-all fashion. Symbolizing the indomitable spirit of Paris is Robert Lamoureaux as Latude, a prisoner of the Bastille who repeatedly tries to escape, and just as repeatedly is captured and thrown back in jail. A note of pathos is provided by Jacques de Feraudy as the dying Voltaire. Though Sacha Guitry suffered a stroke and was confined to a wheelchair throughout much of the filming of Si Paris Nous Etait Conte, he still had two more films left in him before his death in 1957--just 10 days after Bastille Day. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though filmmaker Marcel Carne was no longer considered a trendsetter in the French cinema in the 1950s, his films still turned a profit and pleased the crowd. Heading the cast of Carne's L'Air de Paris is Jean Gabin, the star of the director's earlier Daybreak and other films. Gabin plays Victor, an over-the-hill boxer who hopes to train his ring successor. One of his proteges is railroad worker Andre (Roland Lesaffre), who is hated on sight by Victor's wife Blanche (Arletty). Before long, the irresponsible Andre proves that Blanche was right when he abandons his training in favor of a flashy floozie (Marie Daems). The ending of the film is Pure Hollywood, no matter what language the actors are speaking. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Gallic swashbuckler Cadet-Rousselle stars Francois Perrier in the title role. In love with the mayor's daughter, Rousselle is separated from her by money and by his low-born parentage. He heads off to Paris, there to find fame and fortune and make himself worthy of his sweetheart. En route, however, Cadet-Rousselle gets mixed up with a band of gypsies who plan to help the Royalists topple the New French Republic. Adventure piles upon adventure as Rousselle narrows escapes death at every turn. With him all the way is the new love of his life, fiery gypsy lass Violetta (Dany Robin). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jean Pierre (Roland Alexandre), an aspiring composer, falls in love with seemingly impoverished flower girl Denise (Geraldine Page). In truth, Denise is a popular actress en route from a costume party. Fortuitously, she is also the star of a musical revue, and, as such, secretly tries to use her clout to give Jean Pierre his Big Break. Upon learning that Denise is not a flower girl, and that she is engaged to her director, Jean Pierre angrily walks out of her life. Anyone who's seen a 1930s Warner Bros. musical will know how this one turns out. Pepping up the proceedings in Plaisirs de Paris is a sensuous striptease number, which was usually excised from American prints. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Pauline Kael once characterized the French adventure film Fanfan the Tulip as a "Louis XV western". This is a pretty broad interpretation, though it is true that the film never stops moving--an excellent method of sustaining audience attention and plugging up the plot holes. Gerard Philipe plays Fanfan, a handsome, athletic and self-impressed young peasant soldier. Fanfan is as adept in the boudoir as on the battlefield; it has been prophesied that he will wed the king's daughter, thus he wants to get as much practice as possible. Fanfan's many conquests include Gina Lollobridgida and Genevieve Page, which may be why this film did so well in the States. Fanfan the Tulip is available in several shorter versions, one of which has been redubbed Soldier in Love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

At 110 minutes, L'Auberge du Peche is a bit too poky for its murder-mystery intrigues. Still, a decent level of suspense is maintained throughout. The ball starts rolling when barmaid Laura (Ginette Leclerc) is entrusted with a fortune by a fugitive gunman. When Laura's benefactor dies the next day, she is suspected of his murder. Enter police inspector Briquet (J. P. Kerien), who interrupts his vacation to solve the mystery. Briquet's Columbo-like probings are resented by the local police, represented by the ineffectual Notary (Jean Paredes). True to formula, it is the "buttinsky" who proves to have all the answers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide