Wicked Duchess

1942 [FRENCH]

Action / Drama / Romance

1
IMDb Rating 6.3/10 10 143 143

Plot summary

Edwige Feuillère and Pierre Richard-Willm star in director Jacques de Baroncelli's adaptation of the Balzac novella The Duchesse de Langeais, which tells the tale of a Parisian socialite who is romantically pursued by a Napoleonic war hero. With a screenplay by Jean Giraudoux.

Director

Jacques de Baroncelli Photo
Jacques de Baroncelli

Top cast

Philippe Richard Photo
Philippe Richard as Bonpied - le portier
Dominique Davray Photo
Dominique Davray as Une grisette
Paul Faivre Photo
Paul Faivre as Auguste - le valet de Montriveau
Marthe Mellot Photo
Marthe Mellot as La mère supérieure
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
874.92 MB
968*720
French 2.0
NR
Subtitles fr   us   fi   pt  
24 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds ...
1.59 GB
1440*1072
French 2.0
NR
Subtitles fr   us   fi   pt  
24 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by dbdumonteil

Duchess story

Reviewed by brogmiller 8 / 10

'Je serais heureuse, je n'aimerais jamais'.

Balzac's 'La Comedie Humaine' is a monumental, unrivalled chronicle of French society from the 1790's to the 1830's and contains over two thousand characters. In 1834 appeared 'La Duchesse de Langeais' which forms part of the trilogy 'Les Treize'. Allegedly based upon the Duchess of Castries with whom Balzac had a failed affair Antoinette de Langeais is one of his greatest creations and ranks alongside Sanseverina in 'The Charterhouse of Parma' by Stendahl and the Princess of Cleves by Comtesse de La Fayette. This particular adaptation is by playwright Jean Giradoux who has been pretty faithful to the original. The ending is changed however and the element of Freemasonry has gone. Director Baroncelli is very fortunate here to have the services of Edwige Feuiliere in the title role, an artiste of extraordinary depth, elegance and grace. Anyone who saw her on stage is indeed privileged. Playing Armand de Contriveau is Pierre Richard Willm. He convinces as a proud, arrogant blockhead who realises too late the treasure he has lost. Excellent support also from Aimee Clariond and Charles Granval. Such a pity that a proposed film with Greta Garbo as the Duchess to be directed by Max Ophuls never came to fruition. At least here we have Mlle Feuillere's magnificent performance immortalised on film for which we should be truly thankful. The Princess Beaumont-Chauvry here is Catherine Fontenay. Over fifty years on Edwige Feuilliere was to come full circle by playing this role in a television production.
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