Madame Sans Gêne

So funny so witty

This is glorious French theatre all the way at its best, and of course Sophia Loren is predominantly the shining star that outshines even Napoleon, who nevertheless is very well played by Julien Bertheau, who is especially convincing as the young twerp fooling around with exploding artillery in Paris in August 1792. Christian-Jacques made many historical films and was if anyone an expert of them, and they are all sumptuous and glorious in rendering history alive. The washer-woman Sophia Loren, "Madame Sans-Gêne", meaning the lady who is not ashamed of herself, makes one of her best performances in this thoroughly French film and, as Napoleon admits himself, is the only one who masters him successfully. Since they knew each other well in the gunsmoke of the Paris revolutionary gutters, when it comes to a crisis and Napoleon threatens to dishonour her, forcing her to an involuntary divorce, she recalls the young prig Napoleon of the gutters and finds him rather changed as an emperor, while she hasn't changed at all and still knows how to rebuke him and put him in his place. It's above all glorious theatre, and the historical scenery gives the comedy full justice and a perfect frame. Any admirer of Sophia Loren should never miss this one.

9 out of 10 for me.

A very nice film about a washwoman who becomes the wife of an important militairyman during the napoleontic period. Sophia Loren is really sublime in beauty and in acting. It's a forgotten gem.

The character of Catherine the laundress had been created on stage in Paris in 1893 by the renowned comédienne Réjane who pretty well made the part her own, filming it twice. It has since been played on film by Gloria Swanson, now alas considered 'lost' and by the inimitable Arletty in what is rightfully considered the definitive version by Roger Richebé, featuring as Napoléon Buonaparte a certain Albert Dieudonné who had already played the younger Buonaparte in a little opus directed by Abel Gance! One should not forget the spirited Argentinian version starring the iconic, pocket dynamo Nini Marshall.

Following in these hallowed footsteps is Sophia Loren who brings her vitality, earthy sensuality and comedic sense to the role.

As one would expect from director Christian-Jaque he has used a generous budget to take the material out of the proscenium arch and opted for the romantic, action/adventure treatment complete with the storming of Les Tuileries although for this viewer at any rate, the scenes at court are far more effective. It is however a great pity that the sub-plot in which Catherine saves an aristocrat from execution and proves herself cleverer than the cunning Fouché has been omitted but of course this would have been out of place amidst the overrriding frivolity. For commercial reasons greater emphasis has been placed on the relationship between Catherine and the Lefebvre of Robert Hossein who convinces as a bumpkin sergeant who rises through the ranks but remains a bumpkin. The always-good-value Julien Bertheau is an imperious Buonaparte whilst Robert Dalban is a hoot as a 'camp' dancing master.

The production values are splendid and the film is a must for La Loren's legion of devotees, most of whom will overlook the film's shortcomings.

Catherine Lefebvre,Duchesse de Danzig ,was a pure Parisian:so casting Sophia Loren and her Italian accent is beyond me.Particularly if you have seen Roger Richebé's version (1941) starring Arletty.Arletty shone in this part which was tailor made for her:she was hilariously funny,which Loren is not.When compared to the actresses who played the part on stage (Jacqueline Maillan,Sophie Desmarets) Loren's performance is lackluster.The same goes for Robert Hossein,an excellent thespian ,but who is ill-at-ease in a comedy .

Only the second part is an adaptation of the Sardou/Moreau play.The first one is filmed on location and deals with Napoleon's wars ,but as historian Jean Tulard writes,everything rings bad.This second part,which takes place in the court of the Emperor ,is supposed to be funny:I dare you to laugh once.The subplot (which involved Napoleon,Marie-Louise and Neipperg) was ruled out to make room for the ridiculous scenes with the Prussians.

It's a long way from "Fanfan la Tulipe" ,Christian-Jaque's and Henri Jeanson's fans! The story was actually watered-down in the play:the historic Marechale was a crude vulgar woman whose manners beggared belief.

As I understand it, Madame Sans-Gene (nee Catherine Hubscher) was a crude-mannered Parisian laundress around the time of the French Revolution. She hooked up with Sgt. Francois Joseph Lefebvre, whom Napoleon eventually appointed King of Westphalia. But it didn't end there.

Since I don't know anything specific about Madame Sans-Gene (except that her nickname means "Mrs. No Embarrassment", referring to her behavior), I have to take what this movie says. I don't know whether Christian-Jaque's "Madame Sans-Gene" is supposed to be a comedy, but it sure comes across as such. To be certain, the gunpowder trick during the sabotage scene reminded me of the Bugs Bunny cartoon "Bunker Hill Bunny".

Anyway, worth seeing, although the scenes early on where the guy fondles Sophia Loren make the movie hard to take seriously. I've never seen any of the other movie versions, so I can't compare it with those. Also starring Robert Hossein and Renaud Mary.