Montparnasse 19

I love this French romantic dramas. This one have a big of a drama as well behind the camera.

Gérard Philipe was hired to work with Max Ophüls, unfortunately Ophüls died in production of this film not even finished to read the script made by Henri Jeanson who after his death fought vehemently with Becker to keep the original script. He didn't, he accept to film this Biopic for the admiration he had for Ophüls that before he died asked him to do the film. Jeanson did quit the film, Becker had terrible communication with the main actor Gérard Philipe for differences in how to approach scenes and they disagree constantly on set. Tragically Philip will die a year after this film was concluded at 36 of Liver cancer and Becker 3 years later at 53

This is the story of the last year in the life of Amadeo Modigliani the great Italian painter, theres a reference in my favourite scene of the film that Modi will cite Van Gogh talking about the fact of painting simple every day men instead of cathedrals. The question is asked by the ignorant millionaire who is trying to buy his paintings to use them as publicity banners, and that Modi strictly reject the offer. I felt so overwhelmed of passion and respect for him as the story is reared to this moment and the facial aspect of Gérard "ces't magnifique"

La dernière scène, le "marchand d'art" comme un corbeau attend sa mort puis, comme une lance, donne la poussée finale à Amadeo et Jeanne c'est terrible et la route avant sa mort m'a rendu très triste Es una película preciosa e inolvidable.

The last years of Modigliani's life in Paris 1919, this famous italian-french painter not match with greatest like Cezanne and Van Gogh, but their paintings are so expensives nowadays which put him at high ground, the movie cover a few last years, he already condemned to die due the alcoolism, stayed some time in Nice near the sea to try to recover, back in Paris died still young 36 years old, sad end to true genius, neglected by many, today is honored, but too late!!! Great casting Lili Palmer, Anouk Aimée, Lino Ventura and Gérard Philipe as Modigliani.

Resume:

First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8.25

A few years ago it was hoped that Anouk Aimée would attend a screening of 'Lola' at the French Institute and afterwards answer audience questions. To my great disappointment and that of many others, Mlle Aimée failed to materialise.

I had been hoping to ask her just how much influence Modigliani's daughter Jeanne had on the making of 'Montparnasse 19' which covered the final year in her father's life.

She herself was two months old when he died at just thirty-five but her birth and her mother's suicide by defenestration are absent from the film.

The other mystery of course is how much of Henri Jeanson's original screenplay was changed or jettisoned when Jacques Becker took over the direction from an ailing Max Ophuls. By all accounts Jeanson was thoroughly displeased and took legal action.

What is certain of course is that cinematographer Christian Matras has shot this in the style of Becker and not of Ophuls. There are also scenes with which Ophuls would I'm sure have felt uncomfortable, not least that in which Beatrice Hastings asks Modigliani to hit her again after he has knocked her to the floor!

However ruthless, selfish or anti-social great painters might be they are invariably excused as their behaviour is considered part of the artistic temperament or the prerogative of genius.

Although Modigliani might not have been a jackpot of admirable character traits, the compromises of film dictate that his character be sympathetic. Gérard Philippe is ideal casting in this respect. Granted, the massive ego of the artist is there but also the despair and vulnerability.

It is a pity that the character of his common-law wife Jeanne Hébuterne is so thinly drawn here but Mlle Aimée does her best.

The two performances that stand out are those of Lilli Palmer who is magnificent as Beatrice and Lino Ventura as Morel, a morally vacuous art dealer who observes Modigliani's decline like a vulture circling a dying body.

As one would expect from Becker there is a wonderful sense of period and place and his direction is taut.

There are weaknesses to be sure but one accepts those in exchange for its strengths and the film has a special quality that is hard to define.

Becker was one of the select few that received approval from the Cahiers du Cinema/New Wave contingent.

Jean Luc Godard's appraisal is insightful: "Everything rings true in this totally false film. Everything is illuminated in this obscure film."

Ophuls died shortly before the film was released and within two years both Philippe and Becker had passed away. Ars longa. Vita brevis.

Not particularly stunning but very effective and rather affecting film roughly based on the last years of the life of Modigliani directed by Jaques Becker following the death of Max Ophuls who had already done much preparation. That early work included the recruiting of glamour boy of the time, Gerard Phillipe. He did not have the physical presence of the painter, nor was he Italian but he was considered good looking and I feel carried off the role of the vulnerable, violent and volatile painter well enough. Lilli Palmer and Anouk Aimee excels as his mistress and lover respectively with Lino Ventura turning in a wonderful small but key performance as a rather state dealer. The streets and buildings of Paris and Nice are depicted well although much is filmed in the studio and although Becker is to be congratulated to bring this film in in difficult circumstances ( the writer took him to court and Ophul's death hung over proceedings) it is not typical of his output.

First, the re-issue is excellent; the Centre National de la Cinematographie has really done a fine job of restoration of the negative. The black and white values come through very well.

I suppose Gerard Philipe was the natural choice to play Modigliani, but I wasn't as impressed by his work here as I had been by Les grandes manoeuvres or Les orgueilleux: there's a routine quality about his acting here that I hadn't seen before. Anouk Aimee is very beautiful, and manages to infuse her portrayal of Jeanne Hebuterne with some life. Gerard Sety as the lifelong friend Zborowsky, Lilli Palmer as the wacky English mistress, and Marianne Oswald as the gallery owner all contribute fine performances. I don't care about how the picture was made--the lawsuit and everything else--just about the results.