Directed by:
Jean RenoirCinematography:
Michel KelberComposer:
Georges Van ParysCast:
Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, María Félix, Anna Amendola, Jean-Roger Caussimon, Dora Doll, Giani Esposito, Jacques Jouanneau, Jean Parédès, Franco Pastorino (more)VOD (1)
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The legendary Jean Gabin plays Danglard, mentor to, and lover of, the stage stars of 1890s Paris. When he discovers a naïve young laundress (Francoise Arnoul) dancing in a nightclub he is inspired by her talent to revive the forgotten cancan in a show that the whole of Paris, rich and poor, will never forget. Based on the true story of Moulin Rouge founder Charles Zidler, Jean Renoir’s exuberant tale of an impresario’s commitment to his art is a masterpiece of Technicolor brilliance, which features luminaries of the 1950s Parisian café-concert scene, Edith Piaf and Patachou, as period artistes. (British Film Institute (BFI))
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A comedy of loose morals. We can see French Cancan, another of Renoir’s examples of how true mastery sometimes consists in simplicity that is difficult to capture and analyse (using every shot in its full depth and breadth), as an autobiographical confession of an aging sinner who used his position of influence to seduce significantly younger beauties. This playful, sometimes Ophüls-esque, exaggerated, colourful swarm of numerous characters, none of whom are condemned for their actions, is seen as the second part of Renoir’s “artistic trilogy” (after The Golden Coach and before Elena and Her Men). What the three films have in common is a spectacular celebration of the art of living and living through art. French Cancan is connected by these features particularly to Singin' in the Rain, another musical about a musical that, however, lacks authentic life even though it is funnier, more dynamic and technically better. This ability to build a world that is obviously artificial and yet alive at every moment is what makes Renoir’s unobtrusive creative signature exceptional. 80%
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I can't help it, but apart from the fact that the film is so pleasantly relaxed and has a very period setting, it didn't do much for me. Jean Gabin fits his role pleasantly, the women are beautiful, but I guess I didn't quite fall for the storyline. I didn't find the film very sexy, more just a nice depiction of a certain time in France.
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