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Compartiment de dames seules
1934 Comedy
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Credits
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Director: Christian-Jaque
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Script: Jean-Henri Blanchon, Maurice Hennequin, Georges Mitchell
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Photo: Louis Page, Harry Stradling Sr.
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Music: Pierre Fontaine, Jacques Métehen
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Cast: Armand Bernard (Robert de Mérinville),
Alice Tissot (Mme Monicourt),
Louis Baron fils (Petit-Roncin),
Janine Merrey (Nicole),
Pierre Stéphen (Philippe Thomery),
Ginette Leclerc (Isabelle,
des 'Folies Bergères'),
Charles Lemontier (Firmin),
Christiane Delyne (Mme Petit-Roncin),
Pierre Larquey (Monicourt)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 71 min; B&W
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Summary
On the day of his wedding to Nicole, Robert de Merinville makes an extraordinary confession
to his stepfather. Twenty years ago, whilst taking the train from Paris to Versailles,
he took advantage of a young woman who was alone with him in his carriage. Overhearing
the conversation, Robert’s stepmother is appalled and resolves immediately to put
an end to her daughter’s marriage. She tells Robert that she
was the woman on the train and that the product of that liaison was Nicole, her
daughter. Horrified to learn that he is the father of his own wife, Robert sees
no other recourse but to leave Nicole…
Review
Compartiment de dames seules is a sublime example
of the kind of vaudeville farce that became prevalent in French cinema after the arrival
of sound. Films such as this were often based on well-known stage plays and were
hugely popular, allowing a mass audience across the country to appreciate what had previously
been accessible only to those living in the main cities (usually Paris). In fact,
most actors who appeared in films at this time came direct from the theatre – indeed,
many were distinguished stage actors – and some came from the music hall.
The film was directed by Christian-Jaque who would go on to make some of the most memorable
and popular French films of the following two decades – films such as
L’Assassinat du Père Noël
(1941) and
Fanfan la Tulipe (1952).
What makes Compartiment de dames seules such
an enjoyable film, and a timeless classic, are the contributions from its larger-than-life
cast. Whilst none of the actors who appeared in this film are particularly well
known today, some – notably Armand Bernard, Alice Tissot and Ginette Leclerc –
would have been immediately recognisable when the film was released in 1934.
Every character is played to perfection in what is a magnificent ensemble piece; members
of the cast play off each other in a way that makes this feel far more like a stage production
rather than a conventional film comedy. The superlative comic dialogue is
savoured and delivered to maximum effect, making this an irresistibly funny film.
The situation and jokes are typical of the 1930s but will still strike a chord with a
modern audience. A simple misunderstanding grows and rapidly spirals out of control,
sucking all of the players in the piece into its maelstrom as order gives way to chaos,
as the lid of bourgeois respectability is lifted to reveal a morass of devastating indiscretions,
lies and hypocrisies. Compartiment de dames seules
works both as delicious piece of comic farce and as a closely observed reflection
of contemporary society. In terms of both the quality of the script and the calibre
of the comic performances, this film outshines most comedy that is served up on television
and film today.
© James Travers 2005
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