Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne **** (1945, Paul Bernard, María Casares, Elina Labourdette) – Classic Movie Review 9815

Director Robert Bresson’s exquisitely delicate 1945 romantic drama Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne [Ladies of the Park] is a renowned vintage long-time French favourite and stars the splendid María Casares, Elina Labourdette and Paul Bernard.

In the story, Hélène (Casares) turns the tables on her aristocratic lover Jean (Bernard), who has jilted her, when she makes him fall for a debauched dancer, Agnès (Labourdette), working as a courtesan through poverty.

Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne is a rich, rewarding and entertaining version of a section of Denis Diderot’s classic story Jacques le Fataliste, adapted by director Bresson (scenario and adaptation) and additional dialogue writer Jean Cocteau, who update the tale to contemporary Paris.

A fascinating conjunction of the stark, naturalistic film-maker Bresson and the poetic fantasist Cocteau produces a beautifully stylised, sensual, near-classic work. Bresson may not have cared for professional actors, but they work beautifully for him here.

It is Bresson’s second film (after Angels of Sin [Les anges du péché]) and his last studio film with professional actors. He lived till 98 in 1999 but made only 13 features.

VHS and DVD available: BFI Video (2004) (UK) and The Criterion Collection (2003) (US).

Also in the cast are Lucienne Bogaert, Jean Marchat, Yvette Etiévant, Lucy Lancy, Nicole Regnault, Marcel Rouzé, Bernard Lajarrige, Emma Lyonel, and Marguerite de Morlaye.

María Casares (1922–1996) went on to play Death in Cocteau’s Orphée (1949).

Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne [Ladies of the Park] is directed by Robert Bresson, runs 86 minutes, is made by Les Films Raoul Ploquin, is released by Consortium du Film, is written by Robert Bresson and Jean Cocteau, is shot in black and white by Philippe Agostini, is produced by Raoul Ploquin, is scored by Jean-Jacques Grünenwald and is designed by Max Douy.

María Casares (1922–1996).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9815

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