At the beginning of the 20th century, the destiny of Félicie Nanteuil, a young girl from the provinces who became a big star on the stage thanks to a comedian who committed suicide out of love for her.
Acting
Micheline Presle's luminous transformation from nobody to star.
Cinematography
Shadow-drenched 1940s black-and-white that screams doomed romance.
Costume
Period theatrical garb that dazzles then haunts.
Director
Marc Allégret
Claude Dauphin
Aimé Cavalier
Micheline Presle
Félicie Nanteuil
Louis Jourdan
Robert de Ligny
Jacques Louvigny
Pradel
Marcelle Praince
Mme Nanteuil
Charlotte Clasis
Mme Pierson
Mady Berry
Mme Michon
Jean d'Yd
Le docteur Socrate
Gaston Orbal
Constantin
Max Révol
Edmond Beauchamp
Le jeune premier (uncredited)
Danièle Delorme
La camarade de Félicie (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Louis Jourdan's third film and helped launch his Hollywood career; he fled France for America shortly after.
Based on Jacques de Lacretelle's novel, the film captures post-war French cinema's obsession with theatrical settings as metaphors for performative identity.
FR
