Jacques Roitfeld Movies
- 1968
This comedy-tinged crime drama finds the detective San Antonio (Gerald Barray) and his sidekick Beru (Jean Richard) hot on the trail of some thugs who have stolen some morphine. They trace the thief to a house, but the prime suspect is found murdered. The house is full of hookers, much to the delight of the two detectives, but the drugs are gone. The crooks raid another home thinking they have found the morphine, but they mistakenly grab some small bottles that contain a virus. San Antonio and Beru go after the thugs before the virus can be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Richard, Gérard Barray, (more)
- 1963
Usually cast as secret agent/private eye Lemmy Caution, Eddie Constantine plays "Eddie" in The Empire of Night. This time, Constantine is a cabaret singer at odds with a criminal gang. When the villains try to take over every nightclub in town for their own nefarious purposes, Eddie sings a new tune with his fists. The story takes several unexpected turns, but Constantine remains in charge throughout. This French production was originally released as L'Empire de la Nuit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Genevieve Grad, Elga Andersen, (more)
In this romantic comedy, voluptuous Parisian model Sophie (Brigitte Bardot) is angered when she learns that her boyfriend Phillipe, a photographer, has been playing around with Barbara, an American heiress. Alain, another man, who has secretly loved her for years, suggests she get even by making love to him. Sophie has a better idea, she will follow her Corsican family traditions and simply shoot him. Alain warns the photographer who takes his new girl and flees for the Alps with Sophie and Alain in hot pursuit. In the scenic mountains, Sophie and the 'other' woman meet. Together they decide the men are not worth the effort and begin to despise them. This film contains the once-controversial "nude" dance scene with Bardot (who actually wore a body stocking). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Subor, Jacques Riberolles, (more)
- 1958
Michele Mercier stars as Nicole, a country lass who comes to the big city after winning a "new faces" contest sponsored by a movie studio. Betrayed by a man she thought she could trust, Nicole attempts suicide. She is saved from herself by her home-town fiancé, but the fact remains that she is now considered a failure. A last-minute twist of fate brings about a highly unlikely happy ending. Surprisingly, director Leonide Moguy seems to be taking Georges Tabet's script seriously, instead of treating it as a semi-satirical romantic trifle. The film's title, incidentally, translates to Give Me My Chance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michele Mercier, Nadine Tallier, (more)
- 1957
Eddie Constantine stars as Bob, an American GI at large in Paris. After attending a performance of the fabled Folies-Bergere, Bob becomes convinced that one of the dancers, a feisty little number named Claudia (Zizi Jeanmaire), has stolen his wallet. When he confronts her with this accusation, she reacts in predictably volatile fashion--and before either one of them quite knows what has happened, Bob and Claudia are married! The remaining reels of Folies-Bergere chart the turbulent course of the marriage, as Bob becomes jealous that so many males get to see so much of Claudia on a nightly basis. Despite its come-hither title, Folies-Bergere is about as racy as a seed catalogue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Constantine, Zizi Jeanmaire, (more)
- 1954
This French/Italian adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo began as a two-part film, the entire project running well over three hours. Only the second portion of the film was seen in America, and it is this half that currently carries the title of the Dumas original. Safely escaped from the Chateau D'If, the wronged Edmond Dantes (Jean Marais) returns to his old haunts, thirsting for revenge. In the guise of the Count of Monte Cristo, Dantes manages to drive all his old persecutors to ruin, or death, or both. He finally relents when he realizes that his long-ago sweetheart Mercedes (or "Mercedes-is-it?") is still in love with him. Director Robert Vernay coadapted the screenplay with Georges Neveaux. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Marais, Lia Amanda, (more)
- 1952
Newly married Daniel Gelin spends most of Adorable Creatures reflecting longingly on his previous amours. One of his past conquests was unhappy housewife Danielle Darrieux. Another was insatiable widow Edwige Feuillere. And yet another was avaricious Martine Carol (then married to director Christian-Jacque). Originally released in France in 1952, Adorable Creatures didn't get theatrical play in the US in 1956, and then only in a heavily bowdlerized addition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danielle Darrieux, Daniel Gélin, (more)
