Mademoiselle Fifi

This is a World War II film set in France during the Franco-Prussian War which in real life was over in 6 months. This was not a global conflict with the soldiers of many nations trying to rescue France from invaders. The Germans occupied about a quarter to a third of France and in their stay never put France through the depradations of the 1940s. In fact their stay was climaxed by the crowning of Wilhelm I Emperor(Kaiser) of Germany at Versailles.

But that's not the message Hollywood was sending in those years. Simone Simon becomes the object of the affection of Prussian officer Kurt Kruger.. In the end she does her patriotic duty and so does John Emery in striking a blow for the resistance which there really wasn't any in that war.

The other bone of contention was the silence of the town church bell which for some reason has the occupying Prussians with their backs up. it rings, but at a price for the Prussians.

The cast does well by this historical claptrap in Mademoiselle Fifi.

There is a good film waiting to be made out of de Maupassant's story, but this isn't it. (Stagecoach isn't either). We can understand it isn't Lewton and Wise's fault, it's just that the censorship wouldn't allow it to be done properly then.

Thus, the central character gets turned into a laundress, and the climax comes when she... HAS DINNER with the sadistic Prussian officer!! (in the story, she was shunned by her fellow passengers for being a hooker, then she saves the day by going to bed with him)).

Modern directors like Agnieszka Holland or M.L. Bemberg could make a really great movie out of this, but 1940's America was just not the place.

In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian war, gorgeous laundress Elisabeth Rousset (Simone Simon) is returning home in Cleresville in the occupied France with a snobbish and selfish group of aristocrats, businessmen and a young priest in a stagecoach. When they stop in a inn for the night, the arrogant Prussian Lt. von Eyrick (Kurt Kreuger), known by his alias Mademoiselle Fifi, decides to break the patriotism of Elisabeth and holds up the stagecoach until Elisabeth agrees to "have dinner" with him in his room. The selfish group forces Elisabeth to meet Mademoiselle Fifi, who humiliates her in his room. When the stagecoach finally departs, only Jean Cornudet (John Emery) and the priest comfort Elisabeth and Cornudet decides to stay in Cleresville to ask for forgiveness to Elisabeth. However she rejects his apologies but he decides to stay in the church to help the young priest to resist the Prussians that want him to ring the church bell. Meanwhile Elisabeth is forced to go to a party with Prussian officers where Mademoiselle Fifi is. What will happen to Elisabeth and Cornudet?

"Mademoiselle Fifi" is a dull tale of patriotism, with a story that shows the upper classes together with the enemy to keep their privileges and a simple laundress and a priest as symbols of the resistance and rejection of the enemies. The intention of "having dinner with the enemy in his room" is a very clear metaphor of the true intention of the Prussian office. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Mademoiselle Fifi"

A minor movie set at the end of the 19th century in France, during the Prusian occupation. It's an adaptation from a Guy de Maupassant that deals with the lack of ideals in the upper classes and how the poor are the ones who end up making sacrifices for their country (and for those rich people who has no ideals).

What's more attractive about "Madamemoiselle Fifi" is the presence of the so beautiful and sexy Simone Simon. Apart from that it's just a pleasant product, one of the first that filmed the prestigious director Robert Wise.

*My rate: 5/10

like many movies from period, it is seductive for its atmosphere. it is a kind of Maupassant in American skin. nice, clean, melodramatic, with patriotic heart but , in same measure, good example for a manner to present a drama. sure, like many films of war , its purpose is obvious - to be model for viewers. but it is its sin. Simone Simon is perfect gem for a strange construction, without real story and almost confuse. Manichean lines of script, the good and bad characters, the message like stamp on letter, a great potential and fear to expose more than demand of rules. a film. like many. interesting seed for discover Maupassant work/style. and for hope to a better adaptation.