Three stories about the pleasure. The first one is about a man hiding his age behind a mask to keep going to balls and fancying women - pleasure and youth. Then comes the long tale of Mme Tellier taking her girls (whores) to the country for attending her niece's communion - pleasure and purity. And lastly, Jean the painter falling in love with his model - pleasure and death.
Direction
Those legendary tracking shots that glide like guilty thoughts
Cinematography
Black-and-white so lush you'll forget it's monochrome
Writing
Maupassant stories adapted with cynical tenderness
Director
Max Ophüls
Claude Dauphin
le docteur
Gaby Morlay
Denise - la femme d'Ambroise
Madeleine Renaud
Julia Tellier
Ginette Leclerc
Madame Flora dite Balançoire
Mila Parély
Madame Raphaële
Danielle Darrieux
Madame Rosa
Pierre Brasseur
Julien Ledentu
Jean Gabin
Joseph Rivet
Jean Servais
l'ami de Jean
Daniel Gélin
Jean
Simone Simon
Joséphine
Paul Azaïs
Le patron du bal
Antoine Balpêtré
Monsieur Poulain
René Blancard
Le maire
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ophüls' legendary tracking shots required elaborate rails built through entire sets, with takes so long actors would literally collapse from exhaustion.
The second segment's brothel pilgrimage scandalized 1952 audiences—Ophüls was accused of making prostitution look almost... wholesome?
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