Frank Villard Movies
French actor Frank Villard (born Francois Drouineau in Saint-Jean-d'Angely) frequently played leading roles in average-quality French films. Before becoming an actor, Villard was a painter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1949
Pierre Fresnay heads the cast of Vient de Paraitre as Moscat, a mean-spirited, thoroughly untrustworthy publisher. Possessed of a messianic complex, Moscat thinks nothing of toying with the lives and destinies of his authors, as long as such behavior boosts book sales. Right now he is endeavoring to win a coveted literary award, using a young, self-effacing novelist as his conduit. When the novelist chooses another publisher, Moscat's revenge is swift, terrible, and ultimately self-defeating. Still, this is one picture where virtue doesn't triumph. Vient de Paraitre must have been quite an eye-opener for American filmgoers who knew Pierre Fresnay only for his saintly portrayal of the title character in Monsieur Vincent (1946). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Blanchette Brunoy, Rellys, (more)
- 1949
This French film version of Colette's best-selling novel Gigi predated both the 1950 stage adaptation and the 1958 Hollywood musical of the same name. Set in fin de siecle Paris, The story is the familiar one about 16-year-old Gigi (Daniele Delorme), a waif-like creature who is trained to become a Parisian courtesan by her worldly wise Aunt, Mme. Alvarez (Yvonne de Bray). The girl's first assignment is to serve as the "arm ornament" of wealthy playboy Gaston (Frank Villard), whose previous experiences with women have turned him into something of misogynist. When Gigi falls genuinely in love with Gaston, Mme. Alvarez is appalled: after all, true love is bad for business. Gaston is likewise taken aback by Gigi's devotion -- until he realizes with startling suddenness that he has fallen for her. Long unavailable in the U.S. due to the Oscar-winning MGM musical remake, Gigi happily resurfaced on American cable television in the mid-1990s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvonne de Bray, Danièle Delorme, (more)
- 1950
Actor/writer/director Marcello Pagliero, one of the leading lights of the Italian neorealist movement, was the guiding force behind the French production Les Amants de Brasmart (The Lovers of Brasmart) Frank Villard heads the cast as Jean, a young barge captain whose livelihood is threatened by his avaricious uncle. When not defending himself against his uncle's brutish henchmen, Jean conducts a tender romance with Monique (Nicole Courcel). The best scenes take place on the Seine River, especially a thrill-packed barge race. Cinematographer Roger Hubert manages to bring a realistic veneer to even the most melodramatic plot twists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicole Courcel, Frank Villard, (more)
- 1950
Yves Allegret's Maneges was released in English-speaking countries as The Riding School, The Cheat and Riding for a Fall. Allegret and his screenwriter Jacques Sigurd use their melodramatic plotline to skewer several varieties of hypocrisy. Simone Signoret plays a thoroughly mercenary young woman who offers her body to a wealthy riding-school owner (Bernard Blier). Once she's trapped the poor man into marriage, she strips him of his wealth and property, all the while consorting with lovers from her own class. The film's Ethan Frome-like climax is in keeping with the cynical, semi-satiric tone of the rest of the picture. It is difficult to "feel" for any of the characters in Maneges, since Allegret holds all of them in undisguised contempt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Signoret, Jane Marken [Jeanne], (more)
- 1950
The titular Minne, played by Daniele Delorme, is a starry-eyed young girl whose notions about romance have been culled from cheap novels. Upon marrying her handsome cousin, Minne is immediately disillusioned by her new husband's philandering and inattentiveness. Deciding "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em," Minne wearily embarks on a series of desultory love affairs. Few of the male characters are treated sympathetically in this film, with the exception of the likeable ageing rake portrayed by Jean Tissier. Minne, l'Ingenue Libertine was based on a novel by Colette, of Gigi fame (Incidentally, the 1949 film version of Gigi also starred Daniele Delorme). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danièle Delorme, Frank Villard, (more)
- 1950
The material is better than the execution in the French La Belle Image. The story concerns a plain-looking young man named Raoul (Frank Villard). Ignored by the "beautiful people," Raoul resigns himself to a lonely existence. After surviving an accident, however, his face is restructured by plastic surgery. The "new," handsomer Raoul suddenly finds himself a much-sought-after commodity--though, deep down inside, he still regards himself as inferior. Curiously, director Claude Heymann seems to believe that his story and characters will take care of themselves, without such frivolities as timing and pacing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Françoise Christophe, Frank Villard, (more)
- 1950
In this Italian drama, an independent, sensual woman married to the owner of a riding academy has a string of affairs. She is looking for a bigger better husband and is assisted in her endeavors by her mother. Though she succeeds in destroying her marriage and the fortune of her husband, she does not reach her goal. Instead she gets involved with a gigolo who dumps her. In despair, she has a serious accident and almost dies. The story is told in flashback. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1951
La Cap De L'Esperance (The Cape of Hope) takes place in the criminal demi-monde of a French portside community. Faded beauty Myriam (Edwige Feuilliere) presides over a seedy waterfront dive. Myriam's kept man is shiftless young Pierre (Bernard Lajarrige), a petty thief planning a big-time robbery. Pierre in turn is romancing the daughter (Cosetta Greco) of safecracker Simon (Paolo Stoppa). The whole passing parade is cynically observed by crooked attorney Bob (Frank Villard), one of the masterminds of the robbery. There isn't a likeable or lovable character in the bunch, though Edwige Feuilliere manages to bring a soupcon of pathos to her stock role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edwige Feuillère, Frank Villard, (more)
- 1951
Though the title literally translates to Savage Man or Savage Boy, this French film was released in the U.S. as Savage Triangle. The title character, played by Pierre Beck, is Simon, the ten-year-old son of prostitute Marie (Madeline Robinson). Resigned to his mother's profession, Simon is nonetheless disgusted by Marie's latest lover, the slimy, avaricious Paul (Frank Villard). Tragedy of a shocking but nonetheless predictable nature follows. It is difficult to believe that director Jean Dellanoy could be so maligned by the French nouvelle vague disciples after making so powerful a film as Le Garcon Savage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Madeleine Robinson, Frank Villard, (more)
- 1952
The Seven Deadly Sins is a portmanteau film (a la Quartet and O. Henry's Full House) assembled by some of the biggest talents in the Italian and French film industry. The film's six sections (one containing two sins) are designed by separate titles, which should be self-explanatory. "Avarice and Anger" stars its director, Eduardo DeFilippo, as a miser who comes to grief. "Lust," directed by Yves Allegret, contrasts minor flirtation with major sexual passion. "Pride," directed by Claude Autant-Lara, details the fall from grace of a snooty mother and daughter. The other episodes include "Sloth," directed by Jean Dreville; "Envy," directed by Roberto Rosselini; and "Gluttony," directed by Carlo Rim. An eighth sin, directed by Georges Lacombe and starring Gerard Philipe, is thrown in as a comic bonus. Seven Deadly Sins is a lot of fun, though each of the individual episodes could use a little work in the continuity department. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Philipe, Viviane Romance, (more)
- 1953
La Voca del Silenzio (Voice of Silence) was the only Italian production of fabled German director G. W. Pabst. Based on a concept by neorealism specialist Cesar Zavattini (fleshed out by a team of =12= prominent writers, including Pabst himself and Jean Cocteau), the film follows a small group of very troubled men during a three-day spiritual sojourn. One is a politician, laden with guilt over his comportment during WW II. The second is a war veteran whose wife has "grown away" from him. The third is a writer of detective novels whose works might have inspired a real-life killing. The fourth is a thief who has come to the spiritual retreat to avoid capture. And the fifth is a candle merchant whose livelihood is threatened by modern technology. One of the few concessions to popular taste is a striptease sequence involving Rosanna Podesta. In keeping with the film's title, few words are spoken in La Voca del Silenzio; in this respect, the film is an intriguing throwback to Pabst's classic silent films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1954
In this WW I drama, an Austrian soldier is falsely accused of being a traitor and is sentenced to be executed. His French wife decides to get vengeance upon the Germans she believes framed him and so joins French counter-intelligence to sabotage the Kaiser. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renée Saint-Cyr, Frank Villard, (more)
- 1954
Arletty heads the cast of this first film version of Jean-Paul Sartre's existential theater piece No Exit. The scene is a tawdry hotel room in Limbo, where several damned souls are gathered. At first, the group fails to comprehend where they are or why they're there. When the horrible truth dawns upon them, they carp and snipe at one another, blaming everyone but themselves for their dismal fate. The Sartre original had only one setting and three characters. Pierre Laroche's screenplay unnecessarily "opens up" the play, adding four more characters and several sequences in the "real" world. A more successful (but no more faithful) version of No Exit was filmed in Argentina in 1962. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arletty, Gaby Sylvia, (more)
