Pierre Brasseur Movies
Brasseur was born Pierre-Albert Espinasse. The son of an actress, he began his drama studies with film actor Harry Baur. Onstage from age 15, he made his film debut five years later in La Fille de l'Eau (1924). With his role in Marcel Carne's Port of Shadows (1938) Brasseur moved into the front ranks of the French cinema. A distinguished, imposing actor, he was very skillful in giving voice to irony and wit. Brasseur appeared in a wide variety of roles in over 80 films, most notably those written by Jacques Prevert. He was also a poet who wrote several plays and an autobiography, Ma Vie Envrac. He and his former wife, actress Odette Joyeux, are the parents of film actor Claude Brasseur. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1935
Un Oiseau Rare (Rare Bird) is a wide-ranging satire of several mid-1930s aberrations, including giveaway contests, advertising campaigns and pretentious summer resorts. In a virtual repeat of his role in Rene Clair's Last Billionaire, Max Dearly plays Melleville, an eccentric millionaire who wants to find out how those less fortunate than himself muddle through life. Disguising himself as an impoverished contest winner, Melleville signs in at a fancy hotel. Meanwhile, the actual winner, impecunious Jean Berthier (Pierre Brasseur), also shows up at the hotel, where through a series of silly misunderstandings he's assumed to be the wealthy Melleville. The mistaken-identity angle is played to the hilt, with both Melleville and Berthier learning a lot of life's lessons the hard way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Dearly, Pierre Brasseur, (more)
- 1934
Charles Boyer played his first major Hollywood role (and gets to sing in the bargain!) in the oddball musical romance Caravan. A miscast Loretta Young stars as young Countess Wilms, who is forced to wed by midnight or lose her inheritance. She impulsively chooses gypsy vagabond Latzi (Boyer), offering him a huge sum of money if he'll consent. Swallowing his pride, Latzi agrees to the marriage, but soon the coy Countess falls in love with young Lieutenant Von Tokay (Philips Holmes) -- who is himself in love with Latzi's gypsy sweetheart Tinka (Jean Parker). Director Erik Charrell, famed for his European musical productions (notably Congress Dances), seems uncomfortable adapting to the Hollywood movie-making process. Though evidently intended to be taken seriously, there are times that Caravan comes off like a parody of operettas: one half expects the stars to join in a duet of Cole Porter's spoofish "Wunderbar." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annabella, Conchita Montenegro, (more)
- 1932
The "unaware papa" of the title is played by French comedian Noel-Noel. Ordered by his father to marry a wealthy heiress, our hero changes his mind when he discovers that his former sweetheart has given birth to his child. Noel-Noel sneaks into the maternity hospital and swipes the baby, leading to a merry chase before all is forgiven and Daddy finally marries Mommy. Papa Sans le Savoir was adapted by Yves Mirande from the stage play Little Accident, previously filmed in 1930 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. The same property would be remade under its original title in 1939, then again as Casanova Brown in 1944. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Françoise Rosay, Noël-Noël, (more)
- 1932
He was known as Anatole Litvak during his Hollywood directorial career, but he was still Anatole Litwak when he helmed the German musical Das Lied Einer Nacht (The Song of Night). Famed Polish tenor Jan Kiepura stars as famed Italian tenor Ferraro. Escaping from his tyrannical manager, Ferraro switches identities with a young tourist (Fritz Schulz) and goes off on an unscheduled Swiss holiday. Still travelling incognito, our hero falls in love with a winsome mountain girl (Magda Schneider). Alas, both his romance -- and his freedom -- are placed in jeopardy when it turns out that the charming young fellow with whom Ferraro traded identities was actually a notorious swindler. Anatole Litvak also directed the English-language version of Das Lied Einer Nacht, Be Mine Tonight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan Kiepura, Magda Schneider, (more)
- 1932
The internationally popular screen team of Lillian Harvey and Willy Fritsch scored another box-office bull's-eye with Ein Blonder Traum (A Blonde Dream). Harvey plays a Jou-Jou, a struggling artist who is deceived and victimized by a man posing as an American millionaire. Taking pity on the poor heroine, two window cleaners (Willy Fritsch and Willy Forst), lifelong friends, decide to take care of her and help her achieve success. Inevitably, both of our heroes fall in love with "the blonde dream." Lillian Harvey also starred in the simultaneously filmed English-language version of Ein Blonder Traum, with all the original songs intact. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henri Garat, Willy Fritsch, (more)
- 1932
Though Lillian Harvey is the star of Quick, the title character is played by the versatile French character actor Jules Berry. The story is set among an acting troupe, with leading lady Harvey falling in love with a clown. However, she loves him only when they're on stage together; offstage, Harvey barely acknowledges Berry's existence. It takes a lot of work on Berry's part before the heroine finally learns to love him for himself, and not just for the character he plays. Quick is the French-language version of the German musical drama of the same name, in which Lillian Harvey co-starred with Hans Albers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilian Harvey, Jeanne Fusier-Gir, (more)
- 1931
Victor de Fleury (Rene Lefebvre), a handsome young nobleman, has fallen upon hard times. Victor is hired by wealthy but uneducated industrialist Edgar Flachon (Pierre Brasseur), who is in love with an aristocratic young lady (Alice Ael). Feeling inadequate in his sweetheart's presence, Edgar requests that Victor accompany him to the girl's family's home for a weekend party. No, Victor is not to teach Edgar the proper social graces: His assignment is to behave in such a cloddish manner that Edgar will seem to be a prize catch in comparison. Given this premise, is it any surprise who the girl eventually ends up with? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Brasseur, Gabrielle Fontan, (more)
- 1931
Circulez (Move On) was directed by Jean De Limur, whose apprenticeship in Hollywood served him well while guiding this Gallic romance through its paces. Dorville stars as a middle-aged cop who'd been a non-commissioned officer in WWI. During that period, Dorville enjoyed the rare opportunity of barking out orders to Pierre Brasseur, a cabinet minister's son. Now the selfsame son is romancing Dorville's daughter Germaine Ausrey, much to papa's objections. At first it seems that Brasseur's only interest in the girl is sexual, but by fadeout time he does the Right Thing by marrying her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dorville, Germaine Aussey, (more)
- 1930
Un Trou dans le Muir (The Hole In the Wall) is based on the play by Yves Mirande. The plot is set in motion by the discovery of an ancient document, indicating that a doomed nobleman during the French Revolution had hidden a fortune in gold within a wall in his palace. Keeping this information to himself, a cagey barrister (Jean Murat) gains access to the palace by taking a job as the family chauffeur. The owner's daughter (Marguertie Moreno) falls in love with the "chauffeur," never realizing that his only interest in her household is purely monetary. When the barrister finally determines that the gold is hidden somewhere in the heroine's boudoir, he really begins pouring on the charm. Will the girl tumble to his true intentions -- and will the barrister end up falling in love with her for real? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dolly Davis, Jean Murat, (more)
