Marquitta (1927)

Marquitta is a French film comedy-drama first released in 1927, directed by Jean Renoir.  The film stars Marie-Louise Iribe, Jean Angelo, Henri Debain, Lucien Mancini and Pierre Philippe.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


The wealthy Prince Vlasco leaves his mistress for Marquitta, a poor street singer whom he tries to educate to his own level.  Marquitta repays Vlasco’s kindness towards her by stealing a jewel.  Betrayed, Vlasco drives her away.  When they meet some time later, their situations are reversed.  Marquitta has become a rich and famous singer, Vlasco a performer in a modest troupe.  When Marquitta humiliates him, Vlasco decides to kill himself...

Practically ruined after the commercial failure of his lavish period piece Nana (1926), Jean Renoir willingly agreed to direct this conventional melodrama for the production company La Société des Artistes Réunis.  Not only did it provide him with some financial security, it also allowed him to further develop his directorial technique, bringing some discipline to temper his creative impulses.  Whilst not his most inspired work, the film shows characteristics that would become more noticeable in his subsequent sound films – imaginative camera work, a love of character and a strikingly humanist approach.

© James Travers 2002

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