Charles Vanel Movies

Sacha Guitry's Si Versailles M'Etait Conte (If Versailles Were Told to Me) is best known by its American title Royal Affairs in Versailles. In addtion to writing and directed the film, Guitry reserves for himself the plum role of Louis XIV. Concentrating on the palace of Versailles over a period of 300 years, the storyline concentrates on the various amorous and political intrigues of three French kings. The plot manages to wend its way through the French revolution, coming to a halt in "the present". The star-studded supporting cast includes Jean Marais as Louis XV, Claudette Colbert as Mme. Montespan, Micheline Presle as Mme. Pompadour, and, best of all, Orson Welles as a gouty Ben Franklin. Most currently available prints of Si Versailles M'Etait Conte are severely edited, and fail to do justice to the rich Eastmancolor hues of the original version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Together with Diabolique, The Wages of Fear (Le Salaire de la Peur) earned Henri-Georges Clouzot the reputation as a "French Hitchcock." In truth, Clouzot's ability to sustain suspense may have even exceeded Hitchcock's; when originally released, Wages ran 155 tension-filled minutes. Based on the much-imitated novel by Georges Arnaud, the film is set in Central America. The Southern Oil Company, which pretty much rules the roost in the impoverished village of Las Piedras, sends out a call for long-distance truck drivers. Southern Oil's wages of 2,000 dollars per man are, literally, to die for -- the drivers are obliged to transport highly volatile nitroglycerine shipments across some of the most treacherous terrain on earth. Through expository dialogue, tense interactions and flashbacks, we become intimately acquainted with the four drivers who sign up for this death-defying mission: Corsican Yves Montand, Italian Folco Lulli, German Peter Van Eyck, and Frenchman Charles Vanel. The first half of the film slowly, methodically introduces the characters and their motivations. The second half -- the drive itself -- is a relentless, goosebump-inducing assault on the audience's senses. The winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Festival, The Wages of Fear was remade by William Friedkin as Sorcerer (1977). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally released in 1939, Savage Brigade (La Brigade Sauvage) is set during WW I. The story concerns a deadly -- and long-standing -- feud between two Cossack officers, Kalatjeff (Charles Vanel) and Mirsky (Troubetskoy). About to settle their differences on the field of honor, the officers are obliged to forget their personal squabbles when the war breaks out. Throughout the hostilities, Kalatjeff and Mirsky fight side by side against the enemy, with the understanding that they'll do their best to kill each other when peace is declared. As it turns out, their duel does not take place for another 20 years! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Woman of Evil in this French melodrama is a lady named Louvaine (Helena Bossis). She's a pianist in a tiny café, where her erstwhile lovers, landowner Laurent (Charles Vanel) and surgeon Diego (Jean Chevrier), make nightly visits. The rising passions within the café are counterpointed by the rising flood waters in the surrounding region. When originally released in France, Woman of Evil ran considerably longer than its current 87-minute running time. It was pared down for American consumption to meet the then-prevailing censorial standards. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gringalet was based on a stage play by Paul Vanderberghe, who also essays the title role in the film version. Charles Vanel stars as a powerful industrialist who learns that he has a grown, illegitimate son named Gringalet (Vanderberghe). Once he's over the initial shock, the industrialist insists upon introducing Gringalet to his outraged family. They treat the boy with barely concealed hatred until he finally wins them over. Also repeating her role from the stage version of Gringalet is Marguerite Deval as the imperious family matriarch. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A corrupt, lecherous farming son and the destruction he brings to his family is featured in this melodrama. ~ All Movie Guide

The all-purpose title Woman Who Dared was trotted out for the American release of Jean Gremillon's Le Ciel et a Vous. Madeline Renaud stars as Therese, the wife of aviator Pierre Gauthier (Charles Vanel). Seeking an outlet for her own adventurous spirit, Therese decides to become a pilot herself. Weaving in and out of the proceedings dispensing worldly-wise philosophy is a piano teacher played by Jean Debucourt. Filmed in 1944, Woman Who Dared made it to American shores five years later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

L'Or du Cristobal is based on the novel by A. T. Sersteven. Albert Prejean plays the first mate of the French freighter Cristobal when he's suspected of carrying on with Dita Parlo, the wife of the ship's captain. Once on dry land, Prejean is informed by cabaret dancer Conchita Montenegro that the Cristobal carries a priceless secret cargo of gold. In concert with corrupt police official Charles Vanel, Prejean plots to divest the freighter of its wealth, but the two conspirators eventually fall out thanks to the treacherous Montenegro. Director Jacques Becker also contributed to the screenplay of L'Or du Cristobal without credit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide