Madame Sans-Gêne (1941) User Reviews

One woman show

[dbdumonteil · 7/10 · 25 October 2003]

Adapted from a very famous play,"Madame Sans -Gêne" is Arletty's one woman show ;the part was tailor-made for her and I insist that this movie should be watched in French with subtitles ,because if dubbed in English or another language,it loses 90% of its appeal:such was Arletty's talent,one of the greatest actresses France had ever had.

The play deals with the ordeals of a crude washerwoman in the chic court of Napoleon the First;historical background is vague and thin but never mind.It's Arletty who matters.As for Roger Richebé ,he was not the mediocre director whom most of the critics despise.

Dirty linen.

[brogmiller · 8/10 · 19 May 2020]

The eminent French tragedienne Gabrielle Réjane created the role of Sardou's 'Madame Sans-Gene' in 1893 and later committed it to film and although extant I doubt if any of us has or will ever see it. The same would probably apply to the silent version with Gloria Swanson. Both Nini Marshall and Sophia Loren give spirited performances in films by Maurer and Christian-Jaque but by far the most satisfying is that of Arletty in this film of underrated director Roger Richebé.

This was a creatively rich period for Arletty culminating in 'Children of Paradise' whilst her subsequent fall from grace has been well documented. She is simply magnificent in this as a laundress who is married to a Marshall of France but whose lack of finesse is a constant embarassment and a source of ridicule. She very cleverly helps Napoleon Buonaparte avoid a scandal involving his wife Marie-Louise and prevents an unjust execution thereby being restored to favour. There is wonderful support from Aimé Clariond, Maurice Escande, Henri Nattier and not forgetting Albert Dieudonné in his second outing as Napoleon. A marvellous adaptation by Jean Aurenche directed and performed with customary Gallic style and panache. A real treat for devotees of Arletty and a great discovery for those coming to this incomparable artiste for the first time.

And God Created Arletty

[writers_reign · 9/10 · 26 March 2007]

For reasons largely involving elitism, snobbery and a deeply-rooted belief amongst academics that Craftsmanship, Accessibility and Entertainment are negative qualities plus a childlike faith that New equals Better the name of Roger Richebe has been unjustly neglected. On the other hand the ordinary film fan who wouldn't know a diegesis from a mimetic if one or both walked up and bit him in the ass but does know what he likes has no quarrel with the professionalism of Richebe and actually responds favourably to Richebe's movies when and if given the chance. By 1941 Arletty had appeared in some 32 movies most of which - Fric Frac, La Chaleur du sein - were immensely popular and two of which - Hotel du Nord, Le Jour se leve - were undisputed classics so presumably she had sufficient clout to reject a director she thought incompetent and select one for whom she had respect so the fact that Roger Richebe was on bullhorn for Madame Sans-Gene speaks volumes. Dating back to the turn of the century Victorien Sardou's warhorse is a play which continues to fascinate French actresses well into the 21st century being in some ways a French equivalent of A Streetcar Named Desire inasmuch as its leading role is seen as a yardstick to distinguish actresses from stars. As someone once might have said Cometh The Role, Cometh The Actress and here Arletty and Catherine are one. Richebe masterfully runs the directorial gamut from excellent crowd scenes - including a walk through a crowded street that would be echoed by Arletty/Garance four years later in Les Enfants du Paradis - sumptuous balls, to small intimate scenes with no more than two actors and for good measure throws in a lyrical carriage ride in the Bois. In other films Arletty had sometimes appeared austere and stiffly formal but here Richebe allows his camera to caress her face like a lover and coax forth all her warmth, charm and humour indeed had it not already been used two years earlier in connection with Garbo this film could have been sold with the tag: Arletty Laughs. For any Arletty fan this represents not so much a feat as a banquet to be initially devoured and then savoured.