Madame Sans Gêne

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.

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.

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.

Those who wish to watch a good early 60s historical entertainment can look for ‘Madame Sans Gêne‘, the 1961 film by Christian-Jaque. The historical character of the laundress in revolutionary Paris who married one of Captain Bonaparte’s sergeants and became a duchess at the court of the Empire was popularized by a play that had already been brought to screen in two famous adaptations, one from the silent film era with Gloria Swanson in the title role, the other starring the sparkling and very popular French cabaret and screen star of the 30s and 40s, Arletty. Why another adaptaation? At least two reasons, I think: the advances in color film that made this version of ‘Madame Sans Gêne‘ visually look like a historical blockbuster, and the presence in the title role of the incomparable Sophia Loren.

Catherine Hubscher (real historical character) began by washing Captain Bonaparte’s underpants in the days when his regiment was making the final assault that would bring down royalty. She falls in love with Sergeant Lefebvre whom she follows, mostly out of jealousy, in the campaigns of Bonaparte, who had become a general. An incident that happens only in the movies (or, if you wish, in theatre plays) makes of the two a little imprudent and a little indifferent to the rules of military discipline lovers the heroes who decide a battle with the Austrians. In a decade we will meet them (raised to the ranks of duke and duchess in the new European order) at the imperial court. Napoleon, now emperor, decides to make Lefebvre king, but the duchess’s foul mouth and rough manners will jeopardize the emperor’s plans and the two’s careers.

Christian-Jaque already had the experience with successful historical cape and sword films, but also with romantic comedies. The two genres meet successfully, being grafted onto the text adapted from the French classic. The reconstruction of the period is done with cinematic tools from the arsenal of historical super-productions of the time, without any savings in period costumes (from uniforms to court ladies’ dresses) or in the number of extras. The dialogues are partly taken from the play and the characters and language humor works unexpectedly well on screen. Sophia Loren shines, with silhouette-flattering gowns and a comical temper that seems hard to contain. It is not easy to be Sophia Loren‘s partner, but Lefebvre is excellently played by Robert Hossein, who was otherwise a complex filmmaker, actor and director, today a little unfairly forgotten. I also liked Julien Bertheau who plays Napoleon, an actor I know less of, who shows real comedic qualities. ‘Madame Sans Gêne‘ is an entertainment of the 60s that after another 60 years still has the quality to captivate and entertain audiences.

I haven't read the original play nor have I seen previous adaptations, so I can make no comparisons. But I can tell you, regardless of other versions, that this is a thoroughly enjoyable film with great acting, magnificent sets, witty dialogue and an unusual theme.

First let's talk about the unusual theme. This film is much like the celebrated stories of Guy de Maupassant, using an epic situation as a backdrop and instead telling a very common, human (and humorous) story. In this way, it reduces the epic backdrop to the absurd whilst focusing instead on the importance of individuals in their not-so-epic lives. In other words, this is anti-history. I know I didn't explain that very well, so I'll give you an example instead: Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly" is a perfect illustration, set against the American Civil War yet trivializing the war and instead focusing on 3 gunslingers fighting their own private war. Comedy, wit & irony are key in telling an ironic story like this, and "Madame Sans-Gêne" (as well as "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly") pulls it off brilliantly, largely due to the larger-than-life presence of Sophia Loren in the role of Catherine Sans-Gêne.

There's a line early in the film where the revolutionaries are storming the Tuileries Palace, and they pass by Catherine's laundry shop asking her if she'll come along. She laughs and replies, "No thanks, I already stormed the Bastille last week!" and continues with her laundry. This is the kind of Maupassantian humour I described above, and the film is full of it.

Robert Hossein delivers a marvelous performance as Catherine's husband, the handsome yet awkward provincial (a miller's son) who gets swept up in the epic and gets promoted to royalty. I've only seen Hossein in his heroic, swashbuckling roles, so it was a real treat to see him playing the role of a maladroit oaf for once. His goofy expressions, clumsy gait and general goofiness had me in stitches every time. If you're not familiar with Robert Hossein, try to imagine someone like maybe Christopher Walken playing the part of a nerd. That's the comedy I'm talking about.

I give another thumbs up to Julien Bertheau who plays the "little General" himself, Napoleon. His character is a real douchebag, but you love him for it, and you may even gain an appreciation for the infamous egomaniac who was thrust into one of the most absurd situations in history (leading a nation that had just overthrown its monarchy yet was all too eager to re-create the same monarchy, only with different faces).

I don't think you need to be a student of French history to appreciate this film. It tells a timeless story of the silliness of government, revolution, war, corruption & back to government ...and the loud-mouthed laundress who didn't seem to be affected by any of it. Watch it & enjoy!