Jules Berry Movies
After a false start in silent films, prominent French stage star Jules Berry achieved prominence in talking pictures, beginning with the French-German co-production Quick (1932). He is best remembered for his superb character work in the films of Jean Renoir and Marcel Carne. His most famous screen appearances were as the sadistic nightclub owner in Carne's Le Jour se Leve (1939) and as a bureaucratic Satan in the same director's Les Visiteurs du Soir (aka The Devil's Envoy [1942]). A more benign Jules Berry was seen as the title character in 1937's Arsene Lupin Detective. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1937
Although the title of this French melodrama translates as White Cargo, it has nothing to do with the steamy stage play of the same name. Instead, its source was Chemin di Rio, a novel by Jean Masson. A very young Jean-Pierre Aumont plays a crusading reporter who investigates a white-slavery ring. When Aumont disappears, his sweetheart Kate von Nagy vows to continue his work. Inevitably, Nagy falls into the clutches of demonic pimp Jules Berry and jaded madam Suzy Prim. Dismissed by its director Robert Siodmak in later years as "a dirty movie," Cargaison Blanche seems rather sedate when seen today, save for a brief and tasteful nude bathing scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jules Berry, Kaethe von Nagy, (more)
- 1936
Jean Renoir was the director of The Crime of Monsieur Lange, but this French film might just as well have been made in Hollywood by Frank Capra. The titular Lange (Rene Lefevre) is an author of wild west novels. When the owner of the company that publishes Lange's works absconds with the company funds, Lange rallies the employees together to create their own publishing house. The publisher returns, disguised as a priest, and demands a share of the profits. Lange responds by killing the bounder. The grateful employees help Lange to escape prosecution, allowing him to leave the country with his lovely fiancee (Florelle). Jacques Prevert adapted the screenplay of The Crime of Monsieur Lange from a story by Renoir and Jean Castanier. Stage actor Jules Berry makes his film debut in the role of the shady publisher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jules Berry, René Lefèvre, (more)
- 1936
Director Abel Gance was several degrees removed from his silent masterpiece Napoleon when he called the shots on the conformist crime melodrama Le Voleur de Femmes (aka Woman Thief and A Thief of Women). Annie Ducaux plays a young girl named Anna, who is blackmailed into a life of crime. Leading Anna astray is the slimy Sadoc Torner, played with full "Peter Lorre" repulsiveness by the inimitable Jules Berry. Ultimately, Sadoc is foiled by one of his victims, who steadfastly refuses to submit to extortion. Relieving the overall grimness of the story is the charming comic performance of Saturnin-Fabre as the archetypal absent-minded professor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annie Ducaux, Suzanne Desprès, (more)
- 1936
Incredibly, Rigolbouche was one of seven films directed in a 12-month period by the talented Christian-Jacque. Jules Berry stars as a hard-bitten gambler, operating out of a casino in Paris. Attracted to Mistinguett, a cabaret singer on the lam from the law, Berry hires her as a come-on for wealthy older gamblers. One of Berry's "pigeons" is an elderly count, played by Andre Lefaur. Forced by circumstance to let the Count win at the gaming tables, Berry writes a check for 100,000 francs, knowing full well that he hasn't a sou to his name. When the check is "stolen" by one of Berry's minions, suspicion immediately falls upon Mistinguett, but when the truth comes out, she is rescued from her seedy companions by the compassionate Count. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jules Berry, Mady Berry, (more)
- 1936
Its title translates as Record 413, but Disque 413 is actually the French-language version of the British Guilty Melody. Singing star Gitta Alper repeats her role as opera diva La Salvini, who falls in love with British intelligence agent Richard Maury (Jules Berry, replacing the English version's John Loder). She is confronted by her despicable husband (Larquery), who threatens to ruin her career unless La Salvini does his bidding. He forces her to make a phonograph record containing a secret code message intended for the Enemy. For a while, the British secret service think that our heroine is a musical Mata Hari, but all is set right in the final moments. Both Guilty Melody and Disque 13 are based on a novel by Hans Rehfisch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gitta Alpar, Gaby Basset, (more)
- 1935
Baccara takes place in the late 1920s, as disillusioned WWI hero Jules Berry falls in love with beautiful Marcelle Chantal. For her sake, he gets involved in some highly suspect European financial dealings. Implicated in the ensuing scandal, Berry is forced to fight for his reputation -- and by implication his life -- in the courtroom. Baccara was clearly inspired by the recent Stavisky case, which resulted in lost fortunes, disgrace and suicide throughout Europe. The same historical ground was covered in the a clef Hollywood production Stolen Holiday, in which Claude Rains played another character based on the infamous Stavisky. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jules Berry, Lucien Baroux, (more)
- 1932
Though Lillian Harvey is the star of Quick, the title character is played by the versatile French character actor Jules Berry. The story is set among an acting troupe, with leading lady Harvey falling in love with a clown. However, she loves him only when they're on stage together; offstage, Harvey barely acknowledges Berry's existence. It takes a lot of work on Berry's part before the heroine finally learns to love him for himself, and not just for the character he plays. Quick is the French-language version of the German musical drama of the same name, in which Lillian Harvey co-starred with Hans Albers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilian Harvey, Jeanne Fusier-Gir, (more)
- 1932
The French-language title of this Hungarian-made comedy is a bit misleading, unless one understands its irony. The "palaces" referred to are actually hotels, and the "prince of hotels" is hall porter Claude (Jules Berry). Despite his apparently lowly position, Claude genially reigns over the rest of the domestics, and occasionally offers romantic advice to the more confused hotel guests. As far as his own love life is concerned, Claude is "that way" about an American heiress (Betty Stockfield), though she prefers the company of the rakish King of Poldavia (Albert Dranem). Meanwhile, chambermaid Victoire (Simone Simon), harboring a seemingly hopeless love for Claude, takes up with the heiress's ex-beau, golf champion Teddy Smith (Alexander D'Arcy). It takes a heap of plot twists before Claude and Victoire end up in each other's arms at "The End" time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Stockfeld, Simone Simon, (more)
