The battle of the sexes as drawing room social satire. Philippe, a middle-aged newspaper editor, has lived for six years with Paulette, a successful stage actress. He tells her friend Claudine, a realistic and enterprising reporter, that he's thinking of proposing. Into the mix steps Carl Erickson, a charming Hollywood matinée idol in Paris briefly. He meets Paulette, sees her act (his box seat compliments of Philippe), and sets out to seduce her. The next two days bring talk, tears, separation, despair, surprises, and, perhaps, reconciliation as characters speak "exactly half the truth." It's a quadrille of changing partners.
Writing
Guitry's dialogue cuts like a butter knife made of diamonds.
Acting
Guitry directs himself as the world's most insufferable genius.
Direction
Stage-trained precision, cinematic playfulness.
Director
Sacha Guitry
Sacha Guitry
Philippe de Morannes
Gaby Morlay
Paulette Nanteuil
Jacqueline Delubac
Claudine André
Georges Grey
Carl Erickson (as George Grey)
Pauline Carton
La Femme de Chambre de l'Hôtel
Jacques Vitry
Le Docteur
Louis Baldy
Durmel
Louis Vonelly
Le Chef de Réception
Pierre Huchet
Un Valet de Chambre
Clary Monthal
Une Habilleuse
Marguerite Templey
Madame de Germond
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Guitry shot this in 21 days, often finishing scenes in single takes — he considered multiple takes 'dishonest to the audience.'
The 'quadrille' dance metaphor was vintage Guitry — he staged his own life this way, with four wives and countless overlapping affairs.
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