Yves Allégret Movies
Yves Allégret was one of the prominent directors of post-WW II French cinema, noted especially for his film noirs. He is the younger brother of French filmmaker Marc Allégret. Yves began his career in the early 1930s by assisting Augusto Genina, Jean Renoir, and his brother Marc. He then went on to direct a series of short films; at this time, he also worked as an art director. During his earliest years, he appeared on the credits as Yves Champlain. One of his documentary shorts The Girls of France was shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Allégret made his feature-film debut in 1940, but he did not become an established director until after the war. His films are noted for their naturalism and dark realism, particularly his film Une si Jolie Petite Plage (1949). In the mid-1940s he launched the career of his wife Simone Signoret who starred in some of Allégret's most distinguished films. French actress Catherine Allégret is their daughter. Allégret and Signoret divorced in 1949. In 1987, Allégret died shortly before he was scheduled to receive a French Cesar award for his career achievement. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1976
A child of divorced parents, the young man in this film engineers a situation which will force his mother, whom he has forgotten, to show up. When she does, he is disappointed that she is nothing like his dreams of her. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernard Fresson, Catherine Allegret, (more)
- 1970
A group of amoral students pay a visit to their professor, a noted architect with plans to construct his buildings in Africa. Marcello (Michel Piccoli) and his wife Marina (Lisa Gastoni) invite the dissident students into their home and a philosophical discussion develops. They start to paint his walls and begin to debase the couple. One student urinates on the professor while two make love to the wife amidst the crowd of cheering voyeurs. When his wife starts to take on more men in their bedroom, the professor reveals his homosexual yearnings. The hosts are willingly subjected to sexual debauchery and have their home nearly wrecked by the student visitors. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Piccoli, Lisa Gastoni, (more)
- 1968
In this comedy, a casino owner in Barcelona absconds with a gangster's fortune and is chased to Monte Carlo where he impersonates a millionaire. While there he weds a wealthy American widow. When the gangster learns of the marriage, he and the thief's ex-mistress team up and head for Monte Carlo where they plan on winning back the mobster's missing fortune. Meanwhile the thief thinks about murdering his bride for her money. Unfortunately, the vengeful gangster does it first and frames her new husband for the death. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 1962
The former Belgian Congo was a popular topic for French-speaking filmmakers in the early '60s since the country was in the process of consolidating an independent government. Unfortunately, decades later the country (Zaire for a long time), was still unstable. In this routine drama two Congolese men, two European men, and one Euro woman are thrown together as they all try to escape the areas of fighting. The Europeans are torn between going back home or staying. One fellow lost his business in the upheavals and though he and the woman are involved with each other, she is not so certain that the Congo is an ideal place to try to re-establish a livelihood. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicole Courcel, Jean Lefebvre, (more)
- 1960
In this tragedy, a sailor heads to Hamburg to search for the girl who became his friend a decade before when he had been a POW in Germany. He finds her in the red-light district, the Reeperbahn, where she works as a mud-wrestler in a crummy dive. She hates her job, and she hates the seedy clientele. When she meets the sailor, her hopes of a better life rise. Even though he is already married, the two fall in love. He promises to return that very night, but he is later knifed to death by a mugger. The unknowing woman, assuming he has abandoned her, is crushed and commits suicide. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
A retired gangster leaves his life of crime and settles down on a ranch to raise bulls. The local rice farmers complain his bulls are grazing on their cash crop. When an old crime crony hides out at the ranch, trouble escalates when the fugitive makes a pass at the rancher's girlfriend. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Constantine, Raymond Pellegrin, (more)
- 1959
This routine drama about love, betrayal, and ambition stars Richard Basehart as Georges, the spineless husband of Dominique (Andrea Parisy) a woman who has enough ambition for the both of them. Edmond O'Brien is the unfortunate boss who has allowed some deeds on valuable Tahitian phosphate mines to lapse. While the wife keeps the boss distracted with a series of sexual encounters, she also convinces her husband to transfer the deeds to their names. After the deed is done, so to speak, the couple slowly climb up the economic and social ladder. But since karma never sleeps, they ultimately have to face the consequences of their actions. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andréa Parisy, Edmond O'Brien, (more)
- 1958
Yves Allegret's 3DLa Fille de Hambourg3D (literally 3DThe Girl of Hambourg3D) was released stateside as 3DPort of Desire3D. The film focuses on a former French POW named Pierre (Daniel Gelin) who returns to Germany after the war to seek out a fraulein named Maria (Hildegarde Knef), who extended the hand of kindness to him during his incarceration. Despite the fact that he is married, Pierre hopes to inagurate a romance with Maria, who now works in a seedy Hamburg nightclub. When Pierre is killed by a two-bit thief, Maria brokenheartedly assumes she's been deserted, a misapprehension that leads to tragedy. As was his wont, Allegret piles symbolism upon symbolism throughout 3DLa Fille de Hambourg3D. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Gélin, Hildegarde Neff, (more)
- 1957
Quand la Femme S'en Mele (When the Woman Butts In) stars French film favorite Edwige Feuillere as a high-class gangster's moll named Maine. When Maine's first husband and daughter pay a visit, it's an awkward time for our heroine and her current amour, gang boss Godot (Jean Servais). In addition to fielding a lot of embarrassing questions, Godot also has to deal with a pesky turf war with a rival mobster. Not that the ex-husband is a paragon of virtue: he's busy trying to get even with a crooked business associate. Billed fourth in the cast of Quand la Femme s'en Mele is Alain Delon, who, according to contemporary viewers, "shows promise". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edwige Feuillère, Bernard Blier, (more)
- 1957
This complex effort from French filmmaker Yves Allégret was distributed in English-speaking countries as Young Girls Beware and Look Out Girls. The cautionary title should have been heeded by heroine Fan (Michèle Cordoue). Having had the bad luck to witness a gangland murder, Fan is promptly kidnapped by the killers' cohorts. She is then abducted by a rival gang, only to be re-kidnapped by her original captors. Held hostage to allow the murderer to escape, Fan's ordeal is compounded when the police begin closing in. Only the fact that the killer (Robert Hossein) falls in love with her saves the girl from further outrages -- but she's still not out of the woods as the picture draws to a close. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonella Lualdi, Robert Hossein, (more)
- 1956
Gerard Philipe stars in the lavishly appointed adventure film Le Meilleure Part. Philipe is cast as a dedicated constructive engineer, presently working on a huge dam project. Faced with a deadline, he must complete his project despite such obstacles as strikes, accidents, and illness. But there's another reason for his haste: the engineer is suffering from a heart ailment and may not have all that much time left on Earth, much less on the job. Le Meilleure Part was directed by Yves Allegret, whose usual preoccupation with nastiness and hypocrisy are put on the back burner this time out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Philipe, Michèle Cordoue, (more)
- 1955
Germany's first CinemaScrope feature, Oase (Oasis) was directed by France's Yves Allegret and distributed by Hollywood's 20th Century-Fox. Michele Morgan and Cornell Borchers stars as Francoisce and Karin, a pair of gorgeous lady smugglers. The ladies are sent by their respective gangs to halt the activities of novice gold smuggler Antoine (Carl Raddatz). Francoise gums up the plan by falling in love with Antoine, while Karin remains loyal to her compatriots. As it turns out, only Antoine emerges the winner in this contretemps. The film's title refers to its locale, a way station in the desert from which Antoine conducts his illicit operation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Cornell Borchers, (more)
- 1955
In this erotic French romance two lovely women compete for the love of the same man. The film is also known as Joy of Loving. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1954
Mam'zelle Nitouche represented Fernandel's only 1954 film vehicle. The horse-faced comic actor is cast as Celestin, an organist at a girl's school. By day, Celestin is the meek and mild target of the girls' incessant practical jokes. By night, however, he is the celebrated composer of popular operas -- and the romantic vis-à-vis of a celebrated stage star. When schoolgirl Denise (Pier Angeli) stumbles onto Celestin's secret, she threatens to tell all -- but only if Celestin refuses to escort her to the opening night of his latest opera. As a result, Denise falls in love with a handsome young soldier, while Celestin is accidentally shipped off to an army camp. A series of silly coincidences brings happiness to all concerned by fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernandel, Anna Maria Pier Angeli, (more)
- 1954
In this odd French tragedy, set in Ireland, a nun plots revenge against her brother's executor, the IRA leader she had idolized. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
John Payne stars as legendary pirate Barbarossa -- aka Redbeard -- in Raiders of the Seven Seas. Capturing a Spanish galleon almost single-handedly, Barbarossa claims haughty Contessa Alida (Donna Reed) as his own property. Engaged to marry naval officer Alfredo (Gerald Mohr), Alida despises Barbarossa, but she changes her mind when she finds out what a louse Alfredo can be. All loose plot strands are neatly tied up during the swashbuckling finale, wherein Barbarossa leads an attack on Havana. The supporting cast of Raiders of the Seven Seas is populated with such familiar faces as Lon Chaney Jr., Henry Brandon, and Frank DeKova. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Payne, Donna Reed, (more)
- 1952
La Jeune Folle is based on a novel by Catherine Beauchamp. Daniele Delorme delivers a brilliant performance as an Irish colleen named Catherine, who because of her vivid imagination and unorthodox behavior is considered to be a lunatic. In one of her delusional moments, she imagines that her dead brother is calling for her. She searches for her brother within the ranks of the Irish rebel organization responsible for his death, falling in love with the man (Henri Vidal) who, unbeknownst to her, ordered the killing. Upon learning the truth, Catherine lives only for revenge, leading to an explosive, almost operatic climax. La Jeune Folle was released in English-speaking countries as The Mad Girl and Desperate Decision. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danièle Delorme, Henri Vidal, (more)
- 1952
Nez de Cuir is a lesser but still fascinating exercise from French director Yves Allegret. The title translates to Leathernose, a reference to the protagonist, a Napoleonic-era soldier nobleman named Roger (Jean Marais). After losing his nose in battle, Roger is fitted with a leather prosthesis, which creates an aura of exotic romanticism and enables the lad to enjoy the favors of dozens of eligible young ladies. Alas, Roger cannot come to grips emotionally with his disfigurement, and it is his inner struggles which form the dramatic nucleus of the story. Allegret co-adapted the screenplay of Nez de Cuir from a novel by La Verende. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Marais, Françoise Christophe, (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)
- 1951
Yves Allegret's Les Miracle N'Ont Lieu qu Une Fois was briefly released in the U.S. under the literally translated title Miracles Only Happen Once. Critics have not dealt kindly with the film, comparing it unfavorably to Allegret's "classic" trilogy Dedde d'Anvers, Une si Jolie Petite Plage and Maneges (1948-50). Even so, Les Miracle is not to be dismissed lightly. The story concerns the romance between French student Jerome (Jean Marais) and Italian student Claudia (Alida Valli). Intending to marry, the couple is separated when war breaks out. Year later, Jerome and Claudia are reunited. By this time, however, Jerome has sunk to the depths of degradation, and the rapidly maturing Claudia wonders if the spark can ever be rekindled. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Marais, Alida Valli, (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
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
