Simone Valere Movies
Parisian police commissioner Coleman (Alain Delon) is not a happy man, but he does what he can to get through each day. He has recently started having an affair with Cathy (Catherine Deneuve), and that helps a little. Cathy is also Simon's girlfriend and Simon (Richard Crenna) is Coleman's friend. Unfortunately, Simon is also the head of a gang of criminals. When Coleman's investigation of a drug-smuggling ring closes in, their rivalry comes to a head. One of the highlights of this film is a stunt involving a helicopter and a moving train. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, (more)
This film is Joseph Losey's mood piece that delves into the psychological makeup of Frank Jackson (Alain Delon), the assassin of exiled Russian Communist leader Leon Trotsky (Richard Burton). The tale chronicles the final few months of Trotsky's life, from the May 1940 raid upon Trotsky's Mexican compound until August of that year when Jackson's assassination attempt succeeded. Much of the film details how the shy and mysterious Jackson gained access to the compound through ingratiating himself with family friend Sylvia Ageloff (Romy Schneider). The reclusive Trotsky, seeing a part of himself in Jackson, begins to warm up to him, never realizing that Jackson will be the man to finally kill him. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burton, Alain Delon, (more)
Under the tutelage of one-time husband, director Roger Vadim, Jane Fonda plays the much-younger wife of stuffed-shirt millionaire Michel Piccoli. When Piccoli's handsome young stepson Peter McEnery comes to visit, Fonda is immediately smitten. When Piccoli forces McEnery into a marriage of convenience, she contemplates committing suicide over returning to her barren but lavish lifestyle. The Game is Over was inspired by the Emile Zola novel La Curee (the film's European title). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Fonda, Peter McEnery, (more)
- 1963
This tragic drama is a good example of an original hit stageplay that somehow did not make the desired transition to the big screen. A group of young boys are crushed when they find out the truth about their fathers. One runs away from home, another commits suicide, and the third boy opts to forgive the sins of his father. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Desailly, Simone Valere, (more)
- 1963
Etienne (Jean Sorel) is a young man who seeks work in the coal mines of South France. After experiencing the harsh working conditions, he becomes a labor activist and tries to organize a strike to improve wages and conditions. He is tormented by the mine owner, whose promiscuous wife steps out on him at will. Etienne falls in love with the daughter of a fellow miner, but her loyalty to her father and fear for the loss of his job makes her initially unresponsive to his romantic leanings. The film version of the novel by Emile Zola loses much of the poignant political commentary of the original text. Although the strike is not entirely successful, it paves the way for new considerations of worker's rights. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Sorel, Berthe Grandval, (more)
- 1958
Henri (Fernandel) returns to his homeland after spending several years abroad. Staying with a wealthy friend, he finds his friend is involved with a woman. The woman turns out to be Henri's former lover, and sparks rekindle between them. However, the flame goes out when Henri embarks on a harmless drunken escapade. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernandel, Pierre Dux, (more)
- 1955
Rene Clair's Grand Maneuver was originally titled Les Grandes Manoeuvres, which should surprise no one. Gerard Phillipe plays a dashing dragoons officer, vintage 1913, who wagers his friends that he can make the next woman who enters the room fall in love with him. In strides drop-dead gorgeous Michele Morgan, and the rest writes itself. Phillipe plans a slow seduction and a quick goodbye; Morgan, need we say, is no "goodbye girl." For all its lavish sets and meticulously detailed period costumers, Grand Maneuver is at base the old American farce Sailor Beware with a French accent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Gérard Philipe, (more)
- 1951
Fernard Gravet may look like a natural-born philanderer in Ma Femma est Formidable, but appearances are deceiving. Condemned without evidence as a "rake" by his dimwitted wife Sylvia (Sophie Desmarets) and his monstrous in-laws, Raymond Corbier (Gravet) is further bedeviled by the unwarranted advances of man-chasing Marguerite Rival (Simone Valere). Before long, the whole melange looks like a Leon Errol 2-reeler, complete with fake suicides, slapstick and a wisecracking parrot. While it may not seem like such a much to American viewers, Ma Femme est Formidable was a hit in France; in fact, it won several awards at various French film festivals. The film was directed by Andre Hunebelle, who was undoubtedly gratified that he gave up his previous occupation of glassmaker when the box-office take began rolling in. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernand Gravey, Sophie Desmarets, (more)
- 1951
Jocelyn was inspired by the Lamartine poem of the same name. Played by Jean Desailly, the title character is a 16th-century divinity student who is forced to hide from the authorities. He befriends a young boy, and before long the two have sworn eternal loyalty and fidelity. It comes as quite a shock, then, when Jocelyn discovers that his faithful chum is actually a girl (Simone Valerie). Can he remain loyal to his religious vows with such a beautiful young creature in such close proximity? A bit stilted at times, Jocelyn works best during its exterior sequences, attractively lensed in the French mountain regions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Desailly, Simone Valere, (more)
- 1951
The English-language title of this curious French drama is The Night is My Kingdom. Considered one of the best offerings from the highly variable director Georges Lacombe, the film stars Jean Gabin as Raymond, whose career as a railroad engineer is cut short when he is blinded in an accident. Unable to resign himself to his sightlessness, Raymond prefers to sit at home feeling sorry for himself. After much cajoling by friends and family, he enrolls in a school for the blind, where with the help of sensitive instructor Louise (Simone Valere) he comes out of his shell and starts life anew. La Nuit est Mon Royaume was released around the same time as a similarly-themed American film, Bright Victory. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Simone Valere, (more)
- 1950
La Beaute du Diable came into being when French filmmaker Rene Clair became fascinated with a structural defect in the "Faust" legend. Clair felt that the beginning and end of the story was perfect, but the middle section, wherein the title character blasphemes the Pope, was "silly." The director also wondered what would happen if, instead of forcing Faust to sign his soul away in exchange for happiness and knowledge, the Devil were to ask for nothing, and simply assume that Faust would sign the contract at a later date. As played by Michel Simon, Clair's devil -- or Mephisto --is actually quite a likeable fellow. In fact, he's more fun to be around than the somewhat ethereal Faust of Gerard Philipe. In establishing the "reality" of his fantasy, Clair utilizes several adroit camera tricks to get the audience to swallow the tale. Nicole Besnard co-stars as Marguerite, the vessel of Faust's ultimate redemption. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Simon, Gérard Philipe, (more)
- 1949
The title character in this French outdoor drama is a trusty St. Bernard dog. The dramatic weight of the story, however, is carried on the shoulders of Barry's master Theotime (Pierre Fresnay). In flashback, the audience is apprised of the events leading up to Theotime's decision to enter the priesthood. As can be expected, a woman (Simone Valere) is the cause of it all. In the spirit of "forgive and forget," Father Theotime does his best to smooth the path of romance for his former lady friend and his onetime best friend (Marc Valbel). Meanwhile, Barry distinguishes himself with various and sundry acts of "above and beyond the call" heroism. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Valere, Pauline Carton, (more)
- 1947
La Vie en Rose is the ironic title for a melancholy tale of unrequited love and humiliation. Schoolmaster Louis Salou cannot command respect from anyone, not even his students. Things change for a short while when Salou falls in love with Colette Richard. But he is denied even this balm when Richard is whisked away by the handsome Francois Perier. Unable to withstand the heartbreak of his loss and the ever-increasing taunts from others, Salou kills himself. Only the box-office appeal of its stars kept La Vie en Rose from being as unsuccessful as its protagonist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colette Richard, Simone Valere, (more)
