Pierre Blanchar Movies
Learning his craft at the Paris Conservatory, Algeria-born actor Pierre Blanchar made the first of many memorable stage appearances in 1920. One of France's most popular show business personalities, Blanchar's most famous screen characterizations include Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment (1935) and Napoleon in the British A Royal Divorce (1938). He was also highly praised for his work in Duvivier's Un Carnet du Bal (1937) and Delannoy's La Symphonie Pastorale (1946), the latter film containing perhaps his most touching performance. In 1942, he extended his talents into directing for a brace of films. Pierre Blanchar was the father of actress Dominique Blanchar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1938
A Royal Divorce is the misleading title bestowed upon this dramatization of certain events in the lives of Napoleon and Josephine. Making her first screen appearance in two years, Hollywood's Ruth Chatterton tops the cast as Josephine, whose widowhood is relieved upon her marriage to up-and-coming military officer Napoleon (France's Pierre Blanchar). Though she's several years older than her husband, Josephine tries to be the wife he wants-but she cannot give him what he really wants, namely an heir. Miles Malleson's screenplay puts forth the theory that Josephine agreed to her divorce from the Emperor so that he might father a legitimate child by his mistress, Marie Louise. In terms of costumes and settings, A Royal Divorce is authentic to a fault; in terms of adherence to the facts, it's a bit shaky, though undeniably dramatic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ruth Chatterton, Pierre Blanchar, (more)
- 1948
The troubled turn-of-the-century marriage of a Nobel Prize winner provides the basis of this complex French domestic drama. Neither husband nor wife have been faithful to each other. She is currently having a blatant affair with a drunken news reporter while the writer once had a mistress himself. Unfortunately, she is now dead. His wife discovers that the mistress bore a child and she decides to adopt the orphan herself. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Renant, Gisèle Pascal, (more)
- 1923
Members of a highland clan battle the farmers of the lowlands in a dispute over water rights in this romantic adventure drama. Xavier and Pencho are the sons of the rival factions who end up fighting for the love of the beautiful Maria del Carmen. Pencho flees after stabbing Xavier and leaves the dagger imbedded in the severely wounded victim. News of the incident soon spreads, and Pencho must flee for his life to North Africa. Xavier falls in love with Maria when she offers to help in his recovery. Xavier steals Maria from Pencho, who returns to renew the duel when his rival has sufficiently recovered. Parts of this feature were filmed in North Africa in addition to France. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arlette Marchal, Pierre Blanchar, (more)
- 1949
In Le Bal Cupidon, an amusing comedy-mystery in the Thin Man tradition, Pierre Blanchar plays Dominique-Phillippe, a suave private detective, and Simone Renant plays Isabelle, the best friend of a murder suspect. Isabelle cannot believe that her friend Anne-Marie (Maria Mauban) murdered her wealthy, crippled husband, and insists that Dominique-Phillippe track down the genuine culprit. Trouble is, the detective wants nothing to do with Isabelle, who has caused him no end of difficulty in the past. Adhering to formula, hero and heroine eventually patch up their differences and team up to solve the mystery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Renant, Maria Mauban, (more)
The first of three film versions of Theophile Gautier's popular adventure novel Le Capitaine Fracasse was co-written and directed by Alberto Cavalcanti in 1929. Pierre Blanchar essays the title character, who when first we see him is impoverished nobleman Baron de Solignac. Living a solitary existence in his crumbling ancestral castle, the Baron's existence is brightened by the visit of a travelling harlequin troupe. Falling in love with Isabella (Lien Dyers), the troupe's leading lady, the Baron joins the strolling players, assuming the stage "persona" of Captain Fracasse. In this guise, our hero performs various and sundry feats of derring-do, culminating with his rescue of Isabella from the clutches of the evil Duke de Vallombreuse. Future Hollywood screen idol Charles Boyer shows up in a choice supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lien Deyers, Marguerite Moreno, (more)
- 1933
The great Harry Baur plays the title character in Cette Vielle Canaille -- which translates as "That Old Bum"! But he's no bum at the beginning of the picture: In fact, he's a retired doctor/chemist who spends his spare time conducting medical experiments on small lab animals. Looking for new specimens, Baur visits a circus, where he falls hopelessly in love with vain performer Alice Field. Inevitably, she leaves him in favor of a younger, handsomer man, whereupon Baur goes into an emotional tailspin. In the incredibly tense finale, Field must undergo a delicate operation -- which only Baur can perform! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alice Field, Christiane Dor, (more)
- 1938
The Courier of Lyons stars Pierre Blanchar as both hero and villain. Blanchar is introduced as Joseph Lesurques, who has the misfortune of bearing a remarkable resemblance to notorious outlaw Dubosque. Arrested for a robbery and murder committed by his lookalike, Lesurques cannot account for his actions when the dirty deeds were perpertrated, and is summarily sentenced to be hanged. It is up to Lesurques' wife Mina (Dita Parlo) to clear her husband-but Mina has every reason to see the philandering Lesurques executed. The otherwise grim courtroom sequences provides a brief and very welcome bit of comedy relief when a cheery prostitute (Sylvia Bataille) offers to be a witness for the defense. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Blanchar, Dita Parlo, (more)
- 1932
Jilted by her military-officer lover Rolon (Pierre Blanchard), provincial dressmaker Anna (Madeline Renaud) leaves her home village of Luneville in disgrace. The next time anyone sees Anna, she has transformed herself into Irene, glamorous blonde international movie star. Seeking revenge against the man who seduced her, Anna/Irene returns home, where she intends to woo and then abandon Rolon, who fails to recognize her. By the time he is aware of her true identity, our heroine has fallen in love with him all over again -- and this time, the feeling is entirely mutual. The scenes in a lavish Parisian nightclub were later emulated by director Harry Lachman in such American films as Dante's Inferno and Our Relations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Madeleine Renaud, Jeanne Fusier-Gir, (more)
- 1935
This French filmization of Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment stars Pierre Blanchar as sociopathic student Raskolnikov and Harry Baur as humanist detective Porfiry. Believing himself intellectually above the law, Raskolnikov kills a despicable old shopkeeper. He is certain that he has no conscience to bother him, but he is eventually forced to confront himself by the kindly but diligent Porfiry. The like-vintage Hollywood version of Crime and Punishment ended with Raskolnikov's surrender. The French version (original title: Crime et Chatiment) adheres to the original novel, detailing the student's lifelong search for forgiveness after he is released from prison. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry Baur, Pierre Blanchar, (more)
- 1949
Like his earlier Monsieur Vincent, Maurice Cloche's Docteur Laennec is a lovingly rendered biography of a famed humanitarian. In this instance, the subject is the inventor of the stethoscope, who was forced to battle the hidebound medical hierarchy of his time to prove the far-reaching importance of his creation. Cloche wastes little time on Dr. Laennec's private life, adopting instead an episode retelling of his medical accomplishments. The film wasn't altogether adaptable to American screens, since the abundance of dialogue made subtitling (the preferred translation method of the time) difficult. In the title role, Pierre Blanchar once again offers a first-rate characterization. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Blanchar, Pierre Dux, (more)
- 1959
In this crime drama, a criminal mastermind and his gang plan to rob the Bank of Belgium during the Brussels Exposition as the roof of the bank is being repaired. Included in his gang are a woman, haunted by wartime memories, who loves money, her assistant, and a man pretending to be a construction worker who will help them get in. The woman owns a floating nightclub, and when she refuses to sell it to a gangster named "The Bug" real trouble ensues for the would-be crooks. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nadja Tiller, Robert Hossein, (more)
- 1937
Having been showered with critical adulation for his 1935 adaptation of Crime and Punishment, writer-director Pierre Chenal was further honored for his film adaptation of Luigi Pirandello's Il Fu Mattia Pascal (The Late Mathias Pascal). Fed up with his present existence as a henpecked husband, Mattia Pascal (played by Chenal himself) disappears from view to start a new life in Monte Carlo. Winning a fortune at the gaming tables, he returns home in triumph, only to discover that everyone assumes that he's dead. This gives our hero the rare opportunity of attending his own funeral, where he learns quite a few unpleasant truths. Realizing that both he and his family will be better off if he remains "dead," Pascal heads to Rome, where as "Adriano Meis" he meets a whole new group of friends -- not to mention the true love of his life. Il Fu Mattia Pascal remains faithful to the spirit if not the letter of Pirandello until about five minutes before the end. Il Fu Mattia Pascal would be remade several times, but few of the later versions came close to the excellence of the original. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Blanchar, Ginette Leclerc, (more)
- 1959
Feeling hamstrung and confined by Hollywood, writer/director Robert Siodmak returned to Europe to make most of his latter-day films. Produced in France, Magnificent Sinner stars Curt Jurgens as Czar Alexander II, with Romy Schneider as schoolgirl Katja. The Czar takes Katja as his mistress, elevating her to princess status. The romance leads to court intrigue, and is instrumental in Alexander's ultimate assassination. Magnificent Sinner was originally released as Katia; it was a remake of a 1938 French film of the same name, which starred Danielle Darieaux. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Romy Schneider, Curd Jürgens, (more)
- 1932
Also known as Die Herrin von Atlantis, this expansive G. W. Pabst production is a remake of the 1921 Jacques Feyder film of the same name. Like the earlier film, the remake was largely shot in the Sahara Desert and cost a fortune to put together. Based on the best-selling novel by Pierre Benoit, the original story of adventure, sacrifice, fantasy and mysticism is largely dispensed with as Pabst focuses on the pivotal character of Anitnea, played by the always fascinating Brigitte Helm. Still, plenty of time is afforded the narrative of a group of French soldiers literally stumbling upon the underground city of Atlantis, their efforts to escape, and the ultimate destruction of the lost metropolis. Though Feyder's film is still the superior of the two versions, there is still much to recommend Pabst's L'Atlantide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Pierre Blanchar, (more)
- 1937
The title character of L'Etrange Monsieur Victor is a seemingly respectable storekeeper, happily married to the lovely Madeleine. As the film opens, Victor and Madeleine have just become the proud parents of an adorable baby boy. Everything seems perfect for Victor, a man admired for his good works and love of children. But Victor has a secret life; he is leader of a criminal gang. Now that he is a father, he decides to leave behind his life of crime, but one member of his gang doesn't like this and threatens to expose him. Almost without thinking, Victor kills the man. He escapes suspicion, however, and an innocent man named Bastien is sent to prison instead. As time passes, Victor becomes overcome with guilt and remorse; he loses his temper easily and is likewise easily agitated. Eventually Bastien escapes, and Victor takes him in and hides him -- but doing so threatens to bring about the truth about the murder. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Raimu, Pierre Blanchar, (more)
- 1934
L'Or is the French-language version of the simultaneously filmed German melodrama Gold. Brigitte Helm repeats her leading-lady role of Fronce Wills, but the alchemist Maisslot, originally played by Friedrich Kayssler, is herein portrayed by Jacques Dumesnil, while his assistant Berthier, enacted by Hans Albers in Gold, is essayed by Jean Gabin in the French version. Maisslot and Berthier perfect an atomic reactor (20,000,000 volts of power!) for the purpose of manufacturing gold, which is highly coveted by the villains. When the scientists realize that their invention will ruin the world's economy, they set about to destroy it, setting the stage for a near-apocalyptic climax. The original Gold was directed by Charles Hartl, who served as a consultant when Serge De Poligny occupied the director's chair for L'Or. Stock footage from both versions were later utilized in the 1953 Ivan Tors production Magnetic Monster. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brigitte Helm, Rosine Derean, (more)
- 1937
La Dame de Pique is the first talkie version of the frequently filmed Alexander Pushkin parable The Queen of Spades. Pierre Blanchar stars as Hermann, an officer in the Russian army whose chronic gambling brings him in contact with a wealthy old countess (Marguerite Moreno) known as "La Dame de Pique." Fascinated by the countess' incredible luck at the gaming tables, Hermann is determined to learn her secret. With the help of the old woman's niece (Madeleine Ozeray), Hermann gains access to the Countess's boudoir and tries to romance the secret out of her. When this fails, he produces a gun and demands that she tell all -- whereupon the Countess falls dead from a heart attack. From this point on, Hermann's own doom is sealed. The most famous version of the Pushkin original was filmed 12 years later, with Anton Walbrook as the foolhardy protagonist and Edith Evans as the enigmatic Queen of Spades. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marguerite Moreno, Madeleine Ozeray, (more)
