Film Review
On 13th October 1954, the talented film director Christian-Jaque came
up with this Franco-Italian production of
Madame du Barry. The film
offers a fictionalised account of the life of the royal courtesan
Madame du Barry, the last mistress of King Louis XV.
Christian-Jaque had an impressive career (which lasted from 1932 until
1977) and worked with several luminaries of French cinema on classics
such as
L'Assassinat du père Noël,
Boule
de suif,
La Chartreuse de Parme,
Fanfan
la Tulipe,
La Tulipe noire and many others.
Some would say that this colourful, luxurious film has the charm of a
popular historical novel, and an entertaining one at that. Others
might say that although it is an attractive piece of filmmaking, it is
somewhat superficial and anodyne. However, no one could
imagine a more seductive and impertinent Madame du Barry than Martine
Carol (the first blonde bombshell of French cinema and
Christian-Jaque's fourth wife). Carol brings an exceptional charm
to her interpretation of a girl of the people who was fated to become a
countess and mistress of King Louis XV. She is frivolous and
funny and the film ranks alongside the actress's other successes -
Caroline chérie,
Nana and
Lucrèce Borgia.
His majesty King Louis XV is gracefully portrayed by the distinguished
old actor André Luguet, whilst Daniel Ivernel plays Jean du
Barry with honest brutality, convincing as a greedy coward. The
ambitious Duchesse de Grammont and Duc de Choiseul are brought to life
by the magnificent Italian actress Gianna Maria Canale (who specialized
in the sword and sandal films of the 1960s) and the talented actor
Massimo Serato (seen in the American productions of
El Cid and
55 Days at Peking). The
superb team of supporting actors includes Gabrielle Dorziat, Marguerite
Pierry and Noël Roquevert. The reign of Martine Carol (an
actress who was not afraid to show herself naked on screen) came to an
end when another blonde beauty with the initials B.B. showed up to remind us that God created woman...
© Willems Henri (Brussels, Belgium) 2012
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Next Christian-Jaque film:
Nana (1955)
Film Synopsis
When the nobleman Jean du Barry falls in love with the stunningly
beautiful Jeanne Bécu, he contrives an elaborate plot so that
she may become his mistress. There are two obstacles that Jean
must overcome - first, he is already married; and secondly, Jeanne has
no title. He realises that both of these problems can be overcome
by getting Jeanne to marry his brother. When Jeanne is presented
at the royal court of Louis XV, everyone is enchanted by her beauty,
her naivety and her habit of speaking her own mind. It is not
long before the king takes her as his mistress...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.