Film Review
Having trained and practised as a medical man, Yves Ciampi began his
filmmaking career with an avant-garde short entitled
Mort interdite in 1941. After
the war, he worked as an assistant to Jean Dréville and
André Hunebelle, before making his feature debut with
Suzanne et ses brigands
(1949). Since Ciampi's first career was a doctor, it is not
surprising that three of his films deal with medical problems.
L'Esclave (1953) and
Le Guérisseur (1953) are
concerned respectively with drugs and illegal medicine.
Un grand patron offers not only a
portrait of a famous surgeon but also an acerbic critique of the
medical world and the French bourgeoisie after WWII.
Not a film that is often remarked upon,
Un grand patron is nonetheless an
interesting piece of social commentary that exposes both the virtues
and defects of a noble profession in the 1950s. On repeated
viewings, the film is deeper and more complex than is first apparent,
thanks to an incisive screenplay by Ciampi and Pierre Véry (who
also scripted
Les Disparus de Saint-Agil
(1938) and
L'Assassinat du Père Noël
(1941)). The score is supplied by the French-Hungarian composer
Joseph Kosma who, between 1937 and 1970, composed music for around a
hundred French films. Ciampi's mise-en-scène may
appear a little flat in places but the director brings to his art
something of the precision and control he doubtless employed as a
doctor.
In his 39th film, the monumental actor Pierre Fresnay gives a
remarkable performance as a parvenu and authoritarian medical man who
blindly dedicates his life to his one true love, his work.
Renée Devillers, a member of the Comédie française
from 1961 to 1966, is sublime as Fresnay's devoted wife. At the
start of his career, Jean-Claude Pascal is just as impressive as
Fresnay's seductive but ambitious assistant. A promising newcomer
named Maurice Ronet is to be found amidst a distinguished supporting
cast that includes Pilippe Mareuil, Claire Huhamel, Pierre Destailles,
Claude Nicot, Nadine Alari and Judith Magre.
Un grand patron attracted an
audience of 3.7 million and was one of the most popular French films of
1951. The third film in Ciampi's short but interesting
filmography, it surpasses anything he made subsequently, with the
possible exception of his exotic film noir
Les Héros sont fatigués
(1955) which featured a young and swarthy Yves Montand.
© Willems Henri (Brussels, Belgium), James Travers 2013
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Yves Ciampi film:
Les Héros sont fatigués (1955)
Film Synopsis
Louis Delage is one of the greatest surgeons of his time and nothing
matters more to him than his career. He has a strained
relationship with Dr Tannard, his cousin, who is jealous of his
success. His godson Jacques is training to be a surgeon, but is
having second thoughts. Shortly after having broken up with his
girlfriend, Jacques has a car accident in which he injures another
man. With Jacques on the brink of giving up his studies, Dr
Delage decides the time has come for him to act...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.