Henri Jeanson Movies
French scenarist Henri Jeanson penned scripts and screenplays for numerous films from the early '30s through the early '60s. Before becoming a screenwriter, Jeanson was an actor, journalist, film critic and playwright. In 1950, he directed the film Lady Pan. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1965
In this charming drama, a department store clerk takes his wife and kids on a Parisian vacation. One day he is out sightseeing by himself when he encounters a fashion model and offers to give her a guided tour. As they amble about, the romantic city casts its spell and the model falls in love with her guide (who has been pretending to be an artist). Finally things come to a passionate head, and the fellow must decide between a fling and his family. He chooses the latter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Aznavour, Susan Hampshire, (more)
- 1964
Alain Delon stars as twin brothers in Christian-Jaque's film based on a novel from Alexandre Dumas. Set in 18th century France during rumblings of revolution, Guillaume De Saint-Preux is the legendary Black Tulip, battling for the people against the monarchy. In reality, he is not much more than a self-serving thief who steals from the rich in the name of the people, but keeps it for himself rather than giving to those in need. After his face is scarred to mark him as a bandit, he enlists the aid of his identical twin, Julien, to carry on his work. Unfortunately for him, Julien is a revolutionary at heart and the ensuing events are nowhere close to Guillaume's expectations. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Dawn Addams, (more)
Richard Quine directs George Axelrod's acerbic script (adapted from Julien Duvivier's La Fête à Henriette) in this romantic comedy that reunites William Holden and Audrey Hepburn for the first time since 1954's Sabrina. Holden plays Richard Benson, a Hollywood screenwriter being pressured by movie producer Alexander Meyerheimer (Noël Coward) to finish his script entitled "The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower." Meyerheimer gives Richard a two-day ultimatum to complete his work, unaware that Richard has yet to even start on the script. In an effort to get moving on his project, Richard hires a live-in secretary, Gabrielle Simpson (Audrey Hepburn), to help him. Soon enough, the two fall in love and spend the time enacting various scenes from the unwritten screenplay as the time slips away and Richard's deadline looms. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Holden, Audrey Hepburn, (more)
- 1963
The scene is the French Riviera. Based on eyewitness testimony, three identically dressed men are accused of kidnapping and murdering a child, but two of them can possibly be guilty. Is the innocent party Anthony Perkins, an American who has fled to France in the wake of a sex scandal? Is it Italian Renato Salvatori, whose bad reputation with women has preceded him? Or is it Jean-Claude Brialy, a French businessman whose sister uses her sexual wiles to clinch her brother's big business deals? We'll never know...because Two Are Guilty director Andre Cayatte, a longtime critic of the French justice system, contrives to have all three suspects killed by an out-of-control mob. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Perkins, Jean-Claude Brialy, (more)
- 1962
Based on a 1907 comedy by Victorien Sardou and Emile Moreau, Madame Sans-Gene was first interpreted by Gloria Swanson in 1923. In this version of the free-wheeling laundress who joins the nobility, Sophia Loren plays the lead and the man she falls in love with, the soldier Lefebvre, is played by Robert Hossein. Madame Sans-Gene does the laundry for a little-known lieutenant named Napoleon (Julian Bertheau), but after she falls for Lefebvre, she takes off, following him around the French Revolution and loses track of Napoleon, who has other things to do. Circumstances bring Lefebvre a noble title and even more -- Napoleon decides to make him the local ruler over a large territorial fiefdom. But trouble brews when Madame Sans-Gene, now elevated to the nobility along with her man -- cannot keep her frank observations under control. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Robert Hossein, (more)
- 1962
Filmmaker Julien Duvivier returns to the multistoried format of his earlier omnibus films Tales of Manhattan and Flesh and Fantasy with the 1962 French production The Devil and the Ten Commandments. Actually, there are only seven separate episodes in the film, covering such commandments as "Thou Shalt Not Have Any Gods Before Me", "Thou Shalt Not Steal" and "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother." Each of the vignettes seems to owe more to O. Henry or DeMaupassant than the Book of Exodus, with twist endings carrying the day. The all-star cast includes Michel Simon (Episode One), Dany Saval (Episode Two), Charles Aznavour and Lino Ventura (Episode Three), Micheline Presle, Mel Ferrer and Claude Dauphin (Episode Four); Fernandel (Episode Five); Alain Delon and Danielle Darrieux (Episode Six) and Jean-Claude Brialy (Episode Seven). Best of the batch is the fifth episode, wherein horse-faced Fernandel declares that he is God. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Simon, Françoise Arnoul, (more)
- 1962
A lovely young nurse finds herself framed for the murder of a hospital patient who died after she administered an injection. She goes to court where eventually, the real killer is revealed by his own jilted lover in this French drama. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Gentle Art of Murder is comprised of a trio of short crime tales: "The Spider's Web," "The Fenyrou Case" and "The Mask." An international all-star cast appears in these filmed playlets, wherein each perfect murder turns out to be less than perfect. The stories are linked by "bookend" scenes in which an aspiring wife murderer goes to a movie house and watches the three cautionary tales unreel. Nearly three hours long, Gentle Art of Murder holds both the audience--and the would-be killer--in thrall. The film's original title was Crime Does Not Pay, though it bears no relation to the MGM short-subjects series of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edwige Feuillère, Pierre Brasseur, (more)
- 1961
Skimming the surface of characterization, this romance-tragedy by François Villiers is based on a novel by Jean-Jacques Gautier and concerns the relationship between Laurent (Jean-Claude Brialy), a painter, and Renée (Michele Morgan) and her daughter Daniele (Catherine Spaak). Just when Renée and Laurent are ready to make their love affair official, Renée's daughter shows up and there are immediate sparks of attraction that fly between her and the painter. Sure enough, the fickle artist drops the mom and marries the daughter -- and then they make the mistake of moving in with Renée. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Jean-Claude Brialy, (more)
- 1961
This is a ribald though talkative look at the life and loves, mainly loves, of Henri IV, France's lecherous, 17th-century king. Henri (Francis Claude) has the misfortune of being married to a sharp-tongued woman but the good fortune of being king. That position nets him plenty of mistresses and an increasing number of illegitimate children. When the older king takes an interest in Charlotte (Daniele Gaubert) a teen forty years his junior, he opts to marry her off to a disinterested son (Jean Sorel) in order to have her nearby. These exploits occupy most of the two-hour running time of this standard costume drama, seasoned here and there with a dash of humor. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniele Gaubert, Jean Sorel, (more)
- 1959
A familiar plot and a lovable, sexual, somewhat ditsy female are at the core of this frothy comedy-crime drama found in various incarnations in movies of this type. This is a lesser sequel to the more successful Nathalie. The Nathalie of the title is a lithesome, big-hearted model played by Martine Carol (wife of French director Christian-Jacque, who ceded her position to Brigitte Bardot as France's top sex-symbol). Nathalie inadvertently gets involved with a group of spies out to steal the secret of an atomic engine. The usual inept Inspector (Felix Marten) is on the case, but in the end Nathalie manages to outwit the Inspector in thwarting the spies, not that difficult a task, apparently. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martine Carol, Felix Marten, (more)
- 1959
In this standard tale of a gold-hearted prostitute and her difficulties, Zizi Jeanmaire plays Guinguette, the former lady of the evening who has abandoned her profession for a better life. She finally has the means to open up a bar and dancehall away from the city but just when everything seems to be going well, trouble happens. Gangsters intrude on her life and although she should be happy because she's fallen in love with a great man, that is a rocky road too. The nubile, sixteen-year-old Maryse (Maria-Christina Gajoni) is determined to take Guinguette's love away from her. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zizi Jeanmaire, Jean Pascal, (more)
- 1959
- NR
The Cow and I is purportedly based on the wartime experiences of its star, French farceur Fernandel. The horse-faced comedian plays a French farmer stuck in Germany strong-armed into working for the Nazis. Deciding to escape, Fernandel and his faithful cow walk across Deutschland to his home in France. After a series of picaresque adventures, the farmer and his bovine buddy make it to French soil, only to run afoul of collaborators. The Cow and I was originally released as La Vache et le Prisonnier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernandel, Pierre Louis, (more)
- 1958
Montparnasse 19 is better known as Modigliani, which is also the name of its protagonist. In broad, melodramatic strokes, screenwriter Max Ophuls and director Jacques Becker offer their spin on the tragic, troubled life of Italian abstract painter Amedeo Modigliani. As played by Gerard Philipe, Modigliani is first seen as the derelict he became during his days as a resident of rundown Montparnasse in 1919. His one chance for redemption through the love of the beautiful Jeanne (Anouk Aimee) is thwarted by his hateful family. Another contributing factor to Modigliani's downfall is debauched English novelist Beatrice Hastings (Lili Palmer). The Modigliani depicted in Montparnasse 19 makes Vincent Van Gogh look like Pat Boone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Philipe, Anouk Aimée, (more)
- 1958
Charles Boyer is Maxime in this seriocomic period romance. Maxime is an ageing roue who, partly out of boredom and partly because he needs a steady source of income, arranges the romantic assignations of his protégé, wealthy Hubert (Felix Marten). The old rake's current mission is to weaken the resolve of the lovely Jacqueline (Michele Morgan), who had previously told Hubert to get lost. As it turns out, Maxim falls in love with Jacqueline, especially after discovering that, despite her own impoverished state, Hubert's money means nothing to him. But when Hubert begins acting like a human being instead of a rich jerk, Jacqueline is at last attracted to him, leaving the philosophical Maxim to stand by philosophically, his rogueish smile hiding his broken heart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Charles Boyer, (more)
- 1957
Despite its good intentions, Les Etoiles ne Meurent Jamais might strike some viewers as a slightly ghoulish exercise. The title translates to Stars Never Die, in reference to the nine deceased film luminaries depicted herein. Director/archivist Max De Vaucorbeil has assembled precious film clips of such Gallic greats as Louis Jouvet, Raimu, Harry Baur, Louis Salou and Marguerite Moreno. Francois Perier's narration links the various vignettes together. In its own way, Les Etoiles ne Maurent Jamais can be seen as a precursor to those now-ubiquitous "tributes" on such cable services as American Movie Classics and Turner Classic Movies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The most frequently filmed of Emile Zola's works, Nana was given a slick, polished cinemazation by French- filmmaker Christian-Jacque in 1955. Martine Carol is well (if predictably) cast in the title role, playing a poverty-stricken Parisian girl who rises to prominence as a high-priced whore. Nana is content to love 'em and leave 'em until she becomes the mistress of government-official Charles Boyer. Her genuine love for Boyer results in disgrace and disaster for them both. While less inhibited than the bowdlerized 1934 Sam Goldwyn production of Nana, this French/Italian co-production is rather far afield from the Zola original. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martine Carol, Charles Boyer, (more)
This upteenth film version of the life of royal courtesan Madame Du Barry stars Martine Carol in the title role. Starting out as an ambitious shopgirl, our heroine catches the eye of the even more ambitious Count du Barry (Daniel Ivernei), who in turn brings the girl to the attention of King Louis XV (Andre Luguet). Enchanted by her beauty and forthrightness, Louis takes Mme. Du Barry as his mistress, indulging her every whim. Banished from the court of Versailles by Marie Antoinette, Du Barry ultimately falls victim to the French Revolution, but she has fun while she lasts. Director Christian-Jaque wittily frames his story in the form of a magic-lantern show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martine Carol, André Luguet, (more)
- 1954
This film is comprised of three vignettes focusing upon women and war. The first episode, set in WW II, chronicles the sad journey of an American woman who goes to Italy to bring her husband's body home. In Italy she makes a heart-wrenching discovery: he had been living with an Italian family and had impregnated their daughter and sees the child. The second story chronicles the abandonment of Joan of Arc, by her king and her soldiers. The third episode is a humorous adaptation of "Lysistrata," the Greek play where Athenian wives refused to sleep with their husbands until they stopped making war. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Pauline Kael once characterized the French adventure film Fanfan the Tulip as a "Louis XV western". This is a pretty broad interpretation, though it is true that the film never stops moving--an excellent method of sustaining audience attention and plugging up the plot holes. Gerard Philipe plays Fanfan, a handsome, athletic and self-impressed young peasant soldier. Fanfan is as adept in the boudoir as on the battlefield; it has been prophesied that he will wed the king's daughter, thus he wants to get as much practice as possible. Fanfan's many conquests include Gina Lollobridgida and Genevieve Page, which may be why this film did so well in the States. Fanfan the Tulip is available in several shorter versions, one of which has been redubbed Soldier in Love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Philipe, Gina Lollobrigida, (more)
- 1952
Holiday for Henrietta (originally released in 1952 as La Fete a Henriette) is a Pirandellian comedy about the art of moviemaking. Louis Seigner and Henri Cremieux play a team of screenwriters whose latest project is stuck in a mire of indecision. Should fictional heroine Henriette (Dany Robin) be permitted a happy ending as the romantic Seigner insists, or suffer an unhappy one as "film noir" specialist Cremieux demands? While the screenwriters hash out their contrasting points of view, we see a film-within-a-film, dramatizing the formulating screenplay and its abrupt changes of mood and direction. Finally reaching a compromise, the writers are interrupted by one of the actors in their imaginary movie, who informs them that their "original" plot has already been filmed! When Hollywood got hold of Holiday for Henrietta, it pumped up this modest project into a bloated star vehicle for Audrey Hepburn and William Holden, titled Paris When It Sizzles (63). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Auclair, Dany Robin, (more)
- 1950
Two masters of Italian neorealism--screenwriter Cesare Zavattini and director Luigi Zampa--collaborated on It is Easier for a Camel. As indicated by the film's title, a measure of religiosity figures into the proceedings. Recently deceased Carlo Bacchi (Jean Gabin), on the verge of being sent to Hell, is given 12 extra hours' life to redeem himself. Returning to earth, Bacchi tries to buy his way into the good graces of God. This, of course, has no effect on his ultimate fate--but an extreme act of self-sacrifice does. The film works best when it sticks to the story at hand, instead of going off on satirical tangents aimed at hypocrisy and conspicuous consumption. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Elena Altieri, (more)
- 1950
Dany Robin plays Monelle in this French romantic drama. The heroine is the protégé of world-famous composer Gerard Favier (Louis Jouvet). Their inevitable romance results in plenty of soul-searching, especially since Favier is still deeply in love with his wife. What threatens to become a Gallic version of the old Ingrid Bergman-Leslie Howard weeper Intermezzo goes off on several surprising story tangents in the last ten minutes. Cast as Favier's wife is Louis Jouvet's real-life spouse Renee Devillers. Unhappily, Monelle was one of Jouvet's final films; he died a year or so after its release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis Jouvet, Dany Robin, (more)
- 1950
The vivacious Suzy Delair, whose leading men ranged from France's Bernard Blier to Hollywood's Laurel and Hardy, stars in Lady Paname. Delair plays Caprice, a popular Parisian music-hall performer of the early 1900s. Caprice falls in love with a struggling young composer (Henri Guisol), leading to no end of misunderstandings and reconciliations. Louis Jouvet steals the show as an off-the-wall photographer whose "harmless" eccentricities spark the film's many subplots. Lady Paname represented the only directorial effort of actor/journalist/screenwriter Henri Jeanson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis Jouvet, Suzy Delair, (more)
