Il est charmant (1932)

Il est charmant is a French comedy romance film first released in 1932, directed by Louis Mercanton.  The film stars Henri Garat, Meg Lemonnier, Louis Baron fils, Cassive and Armand Dranem.  It has also been released under the title: He Is Charming.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


Jacques Dombreval is loath to give up his dissolute Parisian life style, which mainly involves frolicking into the early hours with his joyful band of friends.  But that is what he must do to please his uncle who wants him to follow a career in the Law.  The only thing on Jacques’ mind is falling in love, which he promptly does with Jacqueline, who, by chance, is sitting the same exam as him.  Jacques’ charms win over Jacqueline, who helps him to cheat, but have no effect on the examiner, who fails him.  There is but one course left open to Jacques – to accept a position in a notary office in a remote town, hundreds of miles from Paris.   The young man is quick to make the most of his exile and within a few days his new office has more than a touch of the “gai Paris” about it…

Il est charmant is typical of a genre of film – the comedy musical – that was enormously popular in the early years of sound cinema, particularly in France.  This particular piece is unusual in that it was not based on an existing stage production but was especially written for the big screen, by the successful theatre writer Albert Willemetz, with music by Raoul Moretti.   It was produced by Paramount Picture’s studios in France.  Henri Garat, a high-profile and much-loved actor of the time, took the leading role – one of his most memorable – and some well-known singers (Vincent Hyspa, Dominique Bonnaud....) made up a large part of the cast.

Whilst the film does feel somewhat dated with its cramped studio exteriors and a few over-laboured comic situations, its unceasing ebullience and anarchic sense of fun makes it irresistibly charming.  There are a few touches of cinematic genius, such as the sequence in which miniature chorus girls dance on Jacques’ study desk whilst he is seen sleeping in the same shot.  There is also some great comedy (the oral exam scene is hilarious), but it is probably the musical numbers that sell the film and make it such a wonderfully uplifting diversion.

© James Travers 2006

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