atlasmb Nini works in her mother's laundry. She is one of the many people who populate the colorful and bustling streets of Paris, hoping for love or their big breaks. She is spotted in a dance hall by the impresario Henri Danglard, who is searching for a new idea. Though the "cancan is dead", he decides to purchase a local building, rename it the Moulin Rouge, and feature the cancan. He takes Nini to Madam Guibola, a dance instructor with roots that go back to the original cancan, so that she can create a troupe of cancan girls.Nini is pursued by numerous men from every station in life. As she negotiates the various relationships, Danglard--who also has a complicated love life--deals with various complications (mostly financial) that threaten his dream.The film is a love letter to the arts, especially performance arts. Because artists serve the public, the show must go on.The film's climax is the opening night performance of the cancan itself--a riot of color and action, punctuated by screams and watched by an audience that is moved to acts of passion. The tempo accelerates as the dancers are driven to more extreme gymnastics--like a Tarantella of abandonment. The French flags fly overhead, signifying that the cancan is a French institution."French Cancan" is an enjoyable tale designed for enjoyment. The scenery is terrific and all of the actors are strong. Worth noting is Maria Felix, who plays Lola, the belly-dancing stunner whose love for Danglard is exceeded only by her ability to land on her feet regardless of the situation. She can be seen as a symbol of dedication to love and art.Director Jean Renoir has created a charming film that carries the viewer on an engaging ride.

cowboyandvampire A charmingly amoral club owner sets his sights — amorous and financial — on a beautiful, naïve blue collar girl and propels her to the height of celebrity thanks to her titillating dance skills.It may sound like a contemporary, cutting edge urban drama, but French Cancan was made in 1956 by famed director Jean Renoir. The movie — a darkish comedy with a progressive take on sexuality — chronicles the birth of the Moulin Rouge. Legendary Jean Gabin plays Danglard, a world-weary hustler, club owner and anti-hero for the ages, who makes no pretense of his philandering and amorous proclivities. He's casting about for a new lover and a new money making venture when his current club fails and he grows bored with his mistress. He discovers a beautiful young washer girl, Nini, whom he convinces to headline at his new "concept" club, the Moulin Rouge, making it a hot spot and her a celebrity before the doors even open.It doesn't hurt that Nini's moody ex-lover — a sullen baker (le petit grump) — injures Danglard in a fight and an even moodier Russian count becomes suicidal because Nini spurns his advances. As the salacious headlines drive up public interest, they learn the club will feature the cancan in all it's thigh-revealing, petticoat-flashing, bawdy glory — a disreputable dance to begin with now fallen completely out of favor.The movie is a riot with memorable characters, beautiful, dizzying club and dance scenes, a few titillating moments that must have pushed the limits 60 years ago and swooning French girls forever throwing themselves desperately into and out of the arms of their lovers. You almost forget that it's a musical, so seamlessly are the musical and dance scenes integrated into the plot.Danglard's gangly side kick is hilarious as is the whistler. Most delightful of all was seeing and hearing the divine Edith Piaf on screen after listening in awe to her songs all these years.The movie is best enjoyed with absinthe in honor of the absinthe consumed on screen — as fate would have it, we had some delightful Oregon-made absinthe that night — or lots of champagne.-- www.cowboyandvampire.com --

wvisser-leusden Music is the overwhelming theme in this film, making its plot almost fade away. Carried on by Jean Gabin, excellent as usual, as well as by Francoise Arnoul in a very inspiring role.Being a true fifties-production, 'French cancan' takes its time to develop itself towards its climax: a very Parisian cancan-dancing performance in the 'Moulin Rouge', among the most famous of all Parisian night clubs.'moulin Rouge' is French for 'Red Mill", by the way. This film also features Edith Piaf, the greatest of all French female singers.What more can I say to praise 'French cancan'?. I just don't know. Watch for yourself, get carried back to the 1950-s, and enjoy one of the greatest French films ever.

bobsgrock French Cancan is the type of film that cannot be made anymore, at least not in America. It is full of joy, joie de vivre, and an overwhelming sense of hope and encouragement. The genius of Jean Renoir lies in his ability to take a simple, rather mundane story and transform it with brilliant color palates, charming actors and gorgeous scenery that recalls earlier Hollywood musicals such as An American in Paris. Jean Gabin, that wonderful actor who also worked with Renoir in films like Grand Illusion and The Lower Depths, lends his easy-going charm and grace to the role of Dugland, a respected but unsuccessful dance club owner who decides to revive the classic French dance of the cancan, which requires finding fresh new faces complete with long, slim, flexible legs. The best dancer he finds is a laundress named Nini, played by Francoise Arnoul with such elegance and beauty it is hard to think of another actress with such charisma. She is truly a work of art herself and gives the film a whole other dimension with her smile and naiveté. Overall, the climatic scene is what truly grabs you. After the somewhat clichéd arguments between lovers and quarrels over rights of sleeping partners, we finally get to see what we want: a group of beautiful French girls dance the cancan. Beyond even that, Renoir films it at a high-pace energy level along with dazzling colors that fill our senses with wonder. Indeed, here we see the genius of Renoir not only in his ability to transform this material but also in showing foreign audiences the essence of French culture. Known to the outside world as impulsive, highly passionate people, Renoir seems to defend their behavior through dance and the reasons for which they celebrate life. Whether you like the French as a people or not, Renoir makes it very difficult to not appreciate their culture and all the richness and joy that comes with it.