Fanny (1932)
“You can’t buy a girl — especially not one like Fanny.”
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Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
Response to Peary’s Review: Peary also reminds us that “Jacques Demy borrowed the basic plot (eliminating the Cesar character and making the boy a wartime soldier rather than a sailor) for his 1964 musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” and that “the 1961 film Fanny” — starring Leslie Caron and Maurice Chevalier — “was derived from the entire trilogy.” I’m a fan of these gently humorous stories (though I’ll admit to watching them at a slightly sped up pace). This second entry is particularly poignant, given the candid discussions taking place between all parties, and how excited Charpin is to finally be a father after so many years. I appreciate that seafaring Fresnay is gone for most of the movie, allowing this portion of the narrative to focus on Demazis’s decisions on behalf of her child. While there is — of course — heartbreak and compromise to be had, we also see plenty of collaboration and joy, making this film more uplifting than one would expect. Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:
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One thought on “Fanny (1932)”
First viewing. Not must-see.
More or less, my feeling about this second entry is similar to that of the first. ~though I’m not sure why Peary would call director Allegret’s direction “theatrical”. Overall, it’s better than what Korda managed with ‘Marius’. Allegret sets a tone that is more natural, all things considered, and the result is a film with better acting in it.
But then there’s the script – which rambles as much as ‘Marius’ does and it’s too long for its story. I’ll concede that there were moments throughout, here and there, that I found compelling but the film builds to a semi-hysteria in its final 10 minutes and the wackiness of the melodrama therein wore me out.