Although Louis Jouvet remains in the periphery,the film belongs to him.More than to the director himself.He portrays a dramatic art teacher -which he was in real life- and when he gives a piece of advice to his "students" -who are,ironically ,already professionals:Odette Joyeux,Bernard Blier-the film always rings true,it's quite realistic.There are many sequences where the students perform scenes from classic playwrights -my favorite is the excerpt from "taming of the shrew"-and Jouvet's comments and critics are always insightful,as if it were cinema verite .But the scene in the laundry where Jouvet convinces Isabelle's aunt and uncle that their niece was born to play on stage is pure Jeanson : it's the famous moment when Jouvet explains to them that if he wears his Legion d'Honneur ,it is to impress the morons.
Opinions are divided over the "true" love affairs.Cecilia(Odette Joyeux) is a spoiled child who tries to take revenge on her ex-lover who has left her for Isabelle.The writers tried to connect the fictitious heroes to reality but it would take Marcel Carné and Jacques Prévert to fully succeed in that task ("Les Enfants du Paradis" ).
Just sit back and watch the great artist Jouvet at work.He makes all the scenes he's not in almost mediocre by comparison.
13 out of 14 found this helpful