Film Review
In the 1940s and 50s, Pierre Montazel was one of France's top
cinematographers, evidenced by his impressive work on such diverse
films as Roland Tual's
Le Lit à colonnes
(1942), Richard Pottier's
Les Caves du Majestic (1945)
and Jacques Becker's
Touchez pas au grisbi
(1954). His career as a film director was somewhat less
distinguished and encompassed half a dozen nondescript films, most of
which are all but forgotten today. The fact that the iconic
singer Luis Mariano appears in three of Montazel's films evidently did
little to secure him a place in posterity.
The first of Montazel's collaborations with Mariano,
Je n'aime que toi, is a routine
musical comedy (adapted from Jean Montazel's stage play
Suiveur de Madame) which fails to
take off, even though it pairs Mariano with one of the hottest French
actresses of her day, Martine Carol (soon to become
a massive star after her role in Richard Pottier's
Caroline chérie).
It's surprising how dull and uninspired the film is, given the calibre of its cast. In
addition to the hyper-charismatic leads there's comedy support from
husband-and-wife duo Robert Dhéry and Colette Brosset, and Jean
Carmet crops up, fresh and funny as he invariably was at this early
stage in his career.
An even bigger comedy legend - Louis de Funès - appears briefly
(as Mariano's pianist), and you can't help wishing he had been given a
much bigger part in the proceedings. Predictable and
pedestrian for the most part,
Je
n'aime que toi does come to life with its sporadic musical
numbers, but it's far from being Mariano's greatest hour on
screen. His next feature for Montazel -
Pas de week-end pour notre amour
(1949) - is hardly an improvement; he gives far greater value with his
spot in Montazel's likeable musical compendium
Paris chante toujours (1953).
© James Travers 2015
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Film Synopsis
Renaldo Cortez is a world famous singer who lives only for his
art. Feeling neglected, his wife Irène looks for attention
elsewhere and soon begins an affair with a young man, Gérard,
with whom she elopes. Surprised by his wife's sudden departure,
Renaldo charges his best friend Arthur Bidois with finding her and
returning her to him.
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.