Les dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Writers:

Robert Bresson (scenario & adaptation)
Denis Diderot (story)

Release Date:

3 April 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A society lady engineers a marriage between her lover and a cabaret dancer who is essentially a prostitute.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Prostitute | Revenge | Greenhouse | Ex Lover

Cast

Paul Bernard	...	Jean
María Casares	...	Hélène
Elina Labourdette	...	Agnès
Lucienne Bogaert	...	Mme. D
Jean Marchat	...	Jacques
Yvette Etiévant	...	La bonne
Marcel Rouzé
Bernard La Jarrige
Lucy Lancy
Nicole Regnault
Emma Lyonel
Marguerite de Morlaye

Also Known As:

Ladies of the Park (USA) (censored version)
The Ladies of the Bois de Boulogne (USA) (restored version)
As Damas do Bosque de Bolonha (Portugal) [pt]
Damy z lasku Bulonskiego (Poland) [pl]
Die Damen vom Bois de Boulogne (Germany) [de]
Doamnele din Bois de Boulogne (Romania) [ro]
Las damas del bosque de Bolonia (Spain) [es]
Naisen kosto (Finland) [fi]
Oi kyries tou dasous tis Voulonis (Greece) [el]
Perfidia (Italy) [it]

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Studios Pathé-Cinéma - 6 rue Francoeur, Paris 18, Paris, France

Company:

Les Films Raoul Ploquin

Quotes:

Agnès: We're unlucky. Every time we meet alone, it's raining.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Watch this film.

This film shows Bresson before he turned to using nonprofessional actors. But it's still Bresson in its austerity and economy. He demonstrates the vapidity and luxury of the idle class without overwhelming us with the accouterments. Skillfully, he moves forward the story of a scheming, jealous, vengeful society woman whose own tricks have blown up in her face.

One of your commenters complained the film was boring, but that wasn't my experience. I will grant that, if you're looking for explosions,90-degree plot turns, or uproarious comedy, you will certainly be disappointed. On the other hand, if you enjoy watching and hearing a master look into a soulless bosom, and if you enjoy sitting back while a serious artist shows us how to advance a simple but serious plot about serious people, you'll enjoy Dames.