Another Yves Mirande/Georges Lacombe collaboration ,after "Derrière la Façade " and "Café de Paris", this one is a charming comedy,although the background is not particularly happy.This is an all-women cast (12 in all) : there's only a photograph of a man on a bedside table and the shadow of a soldier in the last scene.
Artistocratic chic ladies want to send parcels to soldiers who never receive anything during WW1.THere is just one problem:they are short of the readies.In the neighborhood ,lives a rich princess,Marion ,the posh ladies call "La Marion" cause she has a racy past.A racy past but plenty of dough.So the only way is to knock on her door.
There are plenty of colorful characters:Françoise Rosay is a grumpy dowager (do not call me countess!I'm a duchess!)who wants to choose her daughter's husband (or else she'll become a nun).Gaby Morlay is "Madame Marion" the big-hearted rich woman who remained an unmarried mother.Betty Stockfield portrays a nice ambassador extraordinary.Blanchette Brunoy is the romantic young lead,Marion's daughter,in love with the son of a lady from the "respectable" circle. Micheline Presles is her foster sister,an outspoken damsel who is not afraid,being the son of a peasant woman,to tell the duchess a few plain truths.A pleasant little film.
Like this?Try these......
"Club de femmes" Jacques Deval 1936
"Women" George Cukor 1939
"8 femmes" François Ozon 2002
(feat. male characters but dealing with women's subjects) "The group" Sidney Lumet 1965
