Étoile sans lumière
1946 Drama
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Summary
In the era of the silent film, the actress Stella Dora was a star, but with the advent
of sound she fears for her future. Like many fellow actors, she worries that her
ordinary voice will bring about the end of her career. Her manager and partner,
Roger, is determined so save her, and he goes as far as recruiting a hotel maid, Madeleine,
to dub her songs in her next film, a musical. Madeleine is sworn to secrecy but
when Stella Dora takes all the glory for her work she becomes jealous and intends to end
her contract. Madeleine’s bitterness merely brings about the downfall of Stella
and herself...
Review
Despite being a somewhat lacklustre melodrama (typifying the blandness of French cinema
immediately after the Liberation), Étoile sans lumière retains a
certain interest value with enthusiasts of cinema and French culture, almost exclusively
because of its remarkable cast list. Yves Montand makes his film debut, appearing
alongside an equally young Serge Reggiani, some years before the two men became singing
and acting legends in their native France. Jules Berry and Marcel Herrand, two greatly
respected actors before WWII, find themselves cast in their traditional film roles, but
still manage to impress. However, the biggest surprise - and the main reason for
watching the film - is that singing icon Edith Piaf takes the leading role and, despite
her comparative inexperience as an actress, delivers a poignant and credible performance.
If the dialogue and plot are a trifle stale and unengaging, the same cannot be said of
Piaf’s rendition of her songs, which remain as fresh and as emotionally crushing as ever.
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