Ian
(Flash Review)This film is about a newly hired valet (not a restaurant valet but a butler for the wealthy) and his awkward interactions with the lady of the house and how he seemingly unintentionally charms her. The film is very dialog heavy as this felt like it was a theatrical play. There is some good witty banter as well as some interesting points being made about how the staff (maids and cooks) interact and to what degree their relationships should be with their family. The very end is almost a soliloquy as the valet is reciting all the reasons he is obsessed by his job and his love of being told what to do every day, thus the lack of decisions he needs to personally make. Overall, it was moderately entertaining with light tension and humor.
zetes
A delightful French masters/servants farce not too far removed from The Rules of the Game, the most famous film of this genre. Sacha Guitry plays Jacqueline Delubac's new valet. Delubac isn't entirely sure that she's done the right thing by hiring him. He comes with a reputation for trying to seduce his mistresses. He swears it's all a misunderstanding, and her boyfriend, a minister of the government (Jacques Baumer), convinces her that it'll be all right. But just the suggestion of a possible servant/mistress sexual relationship starts to give both servant and mistress strong sexual dreams about each other, which makes neither of them happy. Worse yet, each are convinced that the other (as well as the other servants) can hear them talk in their dreams. This is quite an enjoyable film, very witty and well acted. It doesn't amount to a lot, and there are some dialogue scenes that go on for too long (it is an adaptation of one of Guitry's plays, but he directs it quite well so it isn't often static), but it's fun. Co-starring Arletty of Children of Heaven fame.
tentender
In "Désiré," Guitry gives himself a quite out-of-the-ordinary vehicle. Frankly, I had become rather tired of his usual pater familias-type character, and it is refreshing to see him in the role of a servant -- a wise, extremely sophisticated valet de chambre, but a servant nonetheless. Oddly, this film somewhat calls to mind Genet's "The Maids," in plot and even, strangely enough, a bit in tone (though it's very funny, funnier even than the usual Guitry comedy). Altogether a very unusual Guitry! Jacqueline Delubac is her usual charming self, Pauline Carton (the French Thelma Ritter, one could say) is as always excellent, and Arletty is seen in her only principal role in a Guitry film (though she is also seen in cameos -- one very wild! -- in two other Guitrys). Also excellent in a small but difficult role is Saturnin Fabre. One is hardly conscious that this is "filmed theater." Yes, there is a lot of talk, but the film-making is swift, sophisticated and inventive. Very enjoyable.
dbdumonteil
Like many (all?) Guitry's movies ,"Désiré " begins with a spoken "cast and credits" .It was before Welles' "Magnificent Ambersons" wasn't it? Paying a tribute ,not only to his actors but also to all those obscure people who contributed to the movie was pretty smart and generous on Guitry's part,a director whose films were slagged off by critic Georges Sadoul as "mirrors of his ego" " canned plays" .Time has done Guitry justice.Two of his movies ,this one and "Quadrille" were recently remade.That said ,in spite of brilliant sequences,I think that "Désiré " is too talky -with his scenes with then-wife Delubac ,his delivery is so rapid ,it's sometimes impossible to catch all he is saying.Désiré is a butler who seduces the posh ladies who hire him.As soon he is in the house,Odette begins to dream she's a love affair with him.The problem is that she speaks and even shouts when she's dreaming and her lover (a politician) is not prepared to accept it.A "Freudian" book about dreams -the kind of work you easily find in a dime store- puzzles the lady.The second half of the play is not as funny as the first one.The arrival of a stupid hard of hearing old "friend" gets in the way.One should note that the first part did include some memorable scenes by Arletty and Pauline Carton as the chamber maid and the cook .A good (but not great) Guitry.
AD
