Les Parisiennes (1962)
Directed by Marc Allégret, Claude Barma

Film Review

Many of us probably remember that in Italy, England and France the anthology film (which consisted of several short segments, often linked by a common theme) had its hour of glory in the 1950s, but lasted for a few more decades.  At first, this kind of film was made for reasons of economy, allowing producers to make use of a wide range of film directors and actors in what were effectively short films that were usually inexpensive to make.  Sometimes, however, the different approaches of the various contributors to an anthology film did not quite gel, and this impacted on the quality of the end product.  This kind of film was very popular with the public, as they effectively got to see several films for the price of one ticket.  Les Parisiennes, released on the 17/1/1962, is one such film.

Here, four fashionable film directors join forces on an engaging comedy of manners, in which several charming creatures (a Parisian street kid, a middle-class woman, a single woman and a student) attempt to seduce members of the opposite sex in various interesting ways.  An unpretentious little film that is enlivened by the music of Charles Aznavour and Georges Garvarentz, Les Parisiennes cheerfully evokes the spirit of a period that is now known as 'Les années Yé-yé'. 

Jacques Poitrenaud imposes his distinctive style with Ella (Dany Saval).  Michel Boisrond, a habitué of light comedies and anthology films, presents the last sketch of his career, Antonia (Dany Robin).  A pioneer of French television, Claude Barma directs the one comedy-drama in the film, Françoise  (Françoise Arnoul).  Marc Allégret, a famous director of the old guard, affixes his inimitable signature to the segment Sophie (Catherine Deneuve).  Parading around the seductive leads is a likeable ensemble that includes: Françoise Brion, Darry Cowl, José Luis de Villalonga, Paul Guers, Johnny Hallyday (who sings his smash hit 'Retiens la nuit'), Elina Labourdette, Christian Marquand and Jean Poiret.

Les Parisiennes was a great success, attracting an audience of 2 million, and is now available on DVD.  It is heartening to know that the anthology movie is still alive today, cropping up from time to time in international productions.  Perhaps it will become more popular, when audiences become accustomed to its charms...

Film Synopsis

Four stories about Parisian women in the sixties.
1) Ella, a dancer from Pigalle, has a meeting with an American producer.  Worried that she may arrive too late, she shares a taxi with a stranger, not knowing that he is the man she is going to see...
2) Françoise returns from the United States and decides to take revenge on her best friend by seducing her fiancé...
3) Antonia is a married woman who has been abandoned by her lover.  She intends to convince him that she still has the power to seduce...
4) Sophie, a young student who has no boyfriend, pretends to be the mistress of her mother's lover.  In fact, she is in love with a guitar player...