Film Review
A shameless vehicle capitalising on the popularity of Josephine Baker
during her phenomenally successful stay in France in the 1930s,
Zouzou struggles to hold its
ramshackle plot together but it is nonetheless compelling viewing,
thanks to the presence of its charismatic star, here partnered with one
of the great icons of French cinema, Jean Gabin. Without the
endlessly fascinating Baker,
Zouzou
would be just another run-of-the-mill musical melodrama struggling to
imitate its American cousin. Even with Baker giving it all she
has, much of the film is a chore to sit through, and it only comes to
life when its star begins doing what she does best, dancing and singing
with the raw energy of a typhoon.
Director Marc Allégret makes a good stab at emulating the big
budget song-and-dance musicals that were being churned out in Hollywood
at the time, but lacking both experience and anything approximating to
flair when it comes to staging musical numbers his efforts are seldom
entirely successful. Compared with the grand set-pieces
choreographed by the great Busby Berkeley in such films as
42nd Street (1933),
Allégret's efforts look pretty feeble, and most fail to take
full advantage of Josephine Baker's breathtaking vitality. Baker
was a reasonably capable actress, but singing and dancing were her
forte. With Baker giving her all in a stand-out erotic dance
sequence and some show-stopping songs,
Zouzou is ultimately saved, but
when you consider how few films this legendary performer appeared in
you can't help thinking this was a missed opportunity.
© James Travers 2013
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Next Marc Allégret film:
Aventure à Paris (1936)
Film Synopsis
Zouzou and Jean, two orphans, are raised as brother and sister by
circus artiste Père Mélé. Many years later,
they live together in Paris, Zouzou working as a laundress, Jean as an
electrician for a musical theatre, the Folies. As Zouzou pines
for Jean, he only has eyes for her fellow worker, Claire. When
Jean is mistakenly arrested for attacking a man in the street, Zouzou
realises she needs money urgently to pay for a defence lawyer.
She gets herself employed as the star attraction at the Folies,
replacing a famous dancer-singer who has just absconded to join her
lover in Brazil. Overnight, Zouzou becomes a sensation, but will
she be in time to save her beloved Jean...?
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.