La crise est finie (1934) User Reviews

1929 crisis becomes an operetta

[dbdumonteil · 6/10 · 8 August 2006]

That was Robert Siodmak's first film in France where he was not reportedly warmly welcomed .After all,he was German.He worked in the country till the war broke out in 1939 just after producing his best French effort "PIèges" .

"La Crise Est Finie" is a pleasant movie,if only for its spontaneity.Albert Préjean and Danielle Darrieux are dynamic leads and make up for the rather simple plot with their enthusiasm and their good humor.

A troupe is fired because ,on stage,they did a very bad joke: they locked up the star of the show in her sedan-chair so she could not shine at all.All these boys and girls decide to put on their own show ;so they take up residence in an old theater "Elysées-Clichy" and they begin to rehearse their operetta "The crisis is over" .But they will have to frustrate their enemy,M.Bernouillin,in his plans.

Danielle Darrieux shines on

[GrandeMarguerite · 6/10 · 28 August 2006]

When watching "La Crise est Finie", you won't believe that it was actually directed by the guy who would direct years later "The Killers" with Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, one of the best films noirs ever made. Robert Siodmak's career in France was never as brilliant as it would become in Hollywood, but at least he managed to fit in the French cinema production of the 30s and did it nicely. This charming old-fashioned musical is worth watching if you enjoy this type of film.

As many comedies of the Depression era, "La Crise est Finie" was clearly designed to relieve the fear and tension of depression life. The lyrics of the theme song are simply amazing when one thinks of the time they were written ("La crise est finie / La crise est finie / Nous vivons l'âge d'or" -- "The slump is over / The slump is over / We live in a Golden Age"). The plot is about the ups and downs of a troupe of young comedians trying to set up a new show -- no more, no less. The film is incredibly bold in some of its innuendos (see for instance how the young women of the troupe try to seduce dirty old men to get props for the show!). But the real gem of the film is Danielle Darrieux. Leading the film with Albert Préjean who was too old for his part (but who cares anyway?), she was already natural, fresh, sparkling (and only 17!). Films like this one made her the biggest female star in pre-war France. No wonder. And then there is her singing! (If you want to hear more of her singing, you should check out "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort" where she was the only actress in the cast not to be dubbed in her songs, and if you can't stand subtitles, then check out "Rich, Young and Pretty". Yes, there is much more to DD's filmography than "8 Women". If you can never tired of her (as I do, most of the time), watch everything she did with Max Ophuls: the films are all great).