Mademoiselle Pigalle

This film can probably be only fairly judged by a fluent French speaker. Subtitled films are more difficult to enjoy because the viewer's full attention isn't entirely with the on screen action. That aside, Bardot is of course the French Marilyn Monroe and she is comely and provocative to live up to that comparison. Her dance numbers while very good weren't anything more than what was done with all the Hollywood musicals of the forties and fifties. The plot is serviceable enough though that aspect of filmmaking is usually not the focus of a musical. Still, good entertainment, especially if you're a Bardot fan and/or can speak fluent French. 6/10.

Wanted by the police, is Nightclub owner Paul Latour, as he's suspected of forgery within a counterfeit ring. So he leaves the country to try the clear his name. In doing so, he has left his "baby" daughter Brigitte to stay with his nightclub performer Jean Clery, who's soon to be married to psychoanalyst Lily. When Brigitte enters Jean's life, everything turns upside as he tries to cope until Paul returns back for her.

Knee-jerk and overly quirky French romantic comedy farce sees the drop dead gorgeous Brigitte Bardot (looking real adorable) getting into a lot of trouble with her ditsy and free-spirited character. The material (written by Roger Vadim and Michel Boisrond) isn't nothing we hadn't seen before, but it holds a solid foundation to draw upon many amusing avenues and the script had a juicy, chic and snappy vibe that only added more to the fun. Director Michel Boisrond's lively sense keeps the running gags flowing (which do work), inventive visuals (split-screens), fast rhythm and sets-up a couple of very well choreographed dance numbers that go onto show how alluring the young lady could be. A very-light weight, silly, bright and zesty feature goes onto shape it with plenty of humorous appeal and charm that streams throughout to its chaotic climax and finally surprising conclusion. Also seducing the audience other than Bardot is the tantalizing music score. Joseph Brun placed the camera in the ideal spot with some adventurous framing finding its way in too. Jean Bretonnière who appears opposite of his co-star, holds his own nicely. Mischa Auer was perfectly tailored for the zany comic touches.

An enjoyably fashionable slice of Brigitte Bardot.

Bardot is gorgeous and so is the production, which aspires to a near-Hollywood gloss, but this is mainly tired, formula comedy smelling faintly of imitation Damon Runyon. Bretonniere is no Yves Montand, and BB's big dance number is a failed imitation of Leslie Caron's introduction in "An American in Paris". Fans of "Time Code" (or perhaps "Tucker") may enjoy some clever split-screen effects that appear to have been achieved with trick sets instead of multiple exposures. A potential guilty pleasure for those who crave 50s CinemaScope eye candy.

When she's on the screen, Brigette commands your attention just by being there, mock-pouting, prancing about in revealing drapery, merely pouting or casting knowing glances at whoever needs to be trapped by her charms.

The plot was the sort of thing that Doris Day films were based around, but here mixed with more farce, more energy, and less coy dialogue; there are farcical situations galore, and common sense does not apply--the viewer is either in the mood for amiable poses from a self-aware sex kitten, or not afraid of a rather convoluted plot that involves gangsters, a butler with a Buster Keaton attitude, a woman professor that claims the straying lead, or totally impromptu musical numbers that owe a good deal of filching from MGM in it's Minnelli years of glorified technicolor.

All of which to summarize: good fun with some hearty laughs and a major bonus in a young star just beginning to realize her considerable impact on viewers, a musical farce with a little romance twisted into a somewhat feeble plot.

'Cette sacree gamine' is French for 'this holy little girl'; or, to translate it better, 'this marvelous baby'.

You'll understand this points to 21-year old Brigitte Bardot. And, oh yes, in this film young Brigitte steals your heart away. The more so, while 'Cette sacree gamine' has several dancing scenes - you may know that BB was a fully educated ballet dancer.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said about this film's plot. Telling its story takes too much time, even to 1950-s standards. Its built-up, complete with dancing and slapstick, looks somewhat unbalanced. While watching you feel an urge to check your watch, wondering how long you'll have to sit this one out.