Le plaisir

Le plaisir

Directed by Max Ophuls • 1952 • France
Starring Danielle Darrieux, Jean Gabin, Simone Simon

Roving with his dazzlingly mobile camera around the decadent ballrooms, bucolic countryside retreats, urban bordellos, and painter's studios of late nineteenth-century French life, Max Ophuls brings his astonishing visual dexterity and storytelling bravura to this triptych of tales by Guy de Maupassant about the limits of spiritual and physical pleasure. Featuring a stunning cast of French stars (including Danielle Darrieux, Jean Gabin, and Simone Simon), LE PLAISIR pinpoints the cruel ironies and happy compromises of life with a charming and sophisticated breeziness.

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Le plaisir
  • Le plaisir

    Directed by Max Ophuls • 1952 • France
    Starring Danielle Darrieux, Jean Gabin, Simone Simon

    Roving with his dazzlingly mobile camera around the decadent ballrooms, bucolic countryside retreats, urban bordellos, and painter's studios of late nineteenth-century French life, Max Ophuls brings his a...

Extras

  • Todd Haynes on LE PLAISIR

    In this introduction, recorded in Hollywood in April 2005, director Todd Haynes reflects on the masterful filmmaking of LE PLAISIR. Please note: this interview contains remarks about the ending of the film.

  • LE PLAISIR English-Narrated Opening

    Max Ophuls recorded English and German versions of the narration for LE PLAISIR, using two of his favorite actors, Peter Ustinov and Anton Walbrook, respectively. In the English version, the film’s dialogue remains in French, while in the German version the entire film is dubbed in German. Presen...

  • LE PLAISIR German-Narrated Opening

    Max Ophuls recorded English and German versions of the narration for LE PLAISIR, using two of his favorite actors, Peter Ustinov and Anton Walbrook, respectively. In the English version, the film's dialogue remains in French, while in the German version the entire film is dubbed in German. Presen...

  • Jean-Pierre Berthomé on LE PLAISIR

    Max Ophuls adapted three short stories by Guy de Maupassant for his film LE PLAISIR. In this piece, created in 2008, film scholar Jean-Pierre Berthomé discusses Ophuls’s original script, in which a different short story, “Paul’s Mistress,” makes up the third episode in place of “The Model.” Berth...

  • Daniel Gelin on LE PLAISIR

    Actor Daniel Gelin, noted for his work with directors Jean Cocteau, Louis Malle, and Alfred Hitchcock, made two films with Max Ophuls, LA RONDE and LE PLAISIR. In this interview, conducted by Martina Muller in 1989, Gelin discusses his experiences on LE PLAISIR.

  • Tony Aboyantz on LE PLAISIR

    Tony Aboyantz’s first job in film was as an assistant director on LE PLAISIR. He worked with Ophuls again on LOLA MONTÈS, then went on to be an assistant director for Jean Girault for many years. This 1989 interview was conducted in Paris by Martina Muller.

  • Robert Christides on LE PLAISIR

    Robert Christides was employed as set decorator on both LE PLAISIR and LOLA MONTÈS. He continued to work as a set decorator, art director, and production designer in a career that spanned thirty years. This 1989 interview was conducted in Paris by Martina Muller.