La Comédie du bonheur
| Le Comedie du Bonheur | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Marcel L'Herbier |
| Written by |
Gaetano Campanile-Mancini André Cerf Fernand Noziere |
| Based on |
play “Samoe glavnoe” by Nicolas Evreinoff Jean Cocteau (additional dialogue) |
| Starring |
Michel Simon Ramon Novarro Jacqueline Delubac Micheline Presle Louis Jourdan |
Release dates |
1940 (Italy) 1942 (Frances) |
| Country |
France Italty |
| Language | French |
Le Comedie du Bonheur (also known as Ecco La Felicità in Italy and Comedy of Happiness in England) is a 1940 French-Italian film. It was the first completed film of Louis Jourdan.
Plot
Wealthy banker Francois Jourdain starts spending his money on philanthropic purposes, so his relatives have him committed to a psychiatric clinic to save their inheritance. During Mardi Gras celebrations, Jourdain escapes and takes residence in a boarding house, which is inhabited by several miserable individuals, including Lydia, the suicidal Russian Fedor, and bitter old spinter Miss Aglae. He hires actors led by Deribin to take up residence and cheer up the inhabitants by putting on a musical production of Quo Vadis.
The lead juvenile Félix begins romancing Lydia to improve her self-esteem. Felix's wife Anita convinces Fédor that life is worth living and Deribin tries to cheer up Miss Aglaé. Jourdain's family go looking for him.
Production
The movie was based on a 1921 play and was shot at Scalera Studios in Rome.[1] It was one of the few films made outside Hollywood by Ramon Novarro.[2]
References
- ↑ La Comedie du Bonheur at Louisjourdan.net
- ↑ Allan R. Ellenberger, Ramon Novarro: A Biography of the Silent Film Idol, 1899-1968; with a Filmography, McFarland, 2009 p 143 accessed 23 January 2014
External links
- La Comédie du bonheur at the Internet Movie Database
- La Comedie du Bonheur at Monsieur Louis Jourdan
- Film review at Films de France