A dead opera diva, three lovers, and one man playing them all—including her father.
On the death of the famous singer Maria Malibran, Countess Merlin retraces the main lines of the unusual destiny of this young woman entirely devoted to her art.
Acting
Guitry plays four roles because ego is a performance art.
Direction
One continuous hour-long opener—Sacha said 'we're not doing cuts, darling.'
Writing
Witty dialogue that knows it's too clever for its own good.
Director
Sacha Guitry
Sacha Guitry
Eugène Malibran
Geori Boué
Marie Malibran
Suzy Prim
Countess Merlin
Mona Goya
Madame Garcia
Jacques Jansen
Charles de Bériot
Denis d'Inès
Berryer
Geneviève Guitry
Young neighbor
Marcel Lévesque
Old music lover
Jean Cocteau
Alfred de Musset
Jacques Varennes
General de La Fayette
Jacques Castelot
Lamartine
Jeanne Fusier-Gir
Concierge
Jean Weber
King of Naples
Jean Debucourt
Countess's friend
Mario Podesta
Manuel Garcia
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Guitry filmed this during the Nazi occupation of Paris, using the production as cover for Resistance meetings. The show must go on, indeed.
The real Maria Malibran died at 28 after singing herself to death with a broken rib—she literally performed until her body gave out, which this film treats as romantic rather than deeply messed up.
FR
