SKU 6264
Availability

AU BONHEUR DES DAMES (The Ladies' Paradise) (1930) * with switchable English subtitles *

Julien Duvivier Writers: Noël Renard (adaptation), Émile Zola (novel) Dita Parlo ... Denise Baudu Ginette Maddie Ginette Maddie ... Clara Andrée Brabant Andrée Brabant ... Pauline Mireille Barsac Mireille Barsac ... Madame Aurélie (as Madame Barsac) Nadia Sibirskaïa Nadia Sibirskaïa ... Geneviève Baudu Germaine Rouer Germaine Rouer ... Madame Desforges Simone Bourday Simone Bourday Cognet Cognet Colette Dubois Colette Dubois Récopé Récopé Yvonne Taponié Yvonne Taponié Marthe Barbara-Val Marthe Barbara-Val ... (as Barbara Val) Marcelle Adam Marcelle Adam Pierre de Guingand Pierre de Guingand ... Octave Mouret Fabien Haziza Fabien Haziza ... Colomban
$13.99

Au bonheur des dames, an adaptation of a novel by Émile Zola, was Julien Duvivier's last silent film, and one of the last great productions of the silent era in France. It tells the story of an orphan, whose uncle's small shop is being overwhelmed by a giant department store across the road. Complications arise when she takes a job in the store and falls in love with the boss. Au bonheur des dames was released in 1930 in a crudely "sonorised" version with music and sound effects. One critic of the time complained about the German marching band music and the crowd scenes that sounded like cats in heat and baying dogs. The film flopped. Fortunately, this version has fewer screeching cats and howling dogs in the soundtrack.

DVD-R has French intertitles with switchable English subtitles. Approx. 88 mins.  See film samples for sound and video quality!  

 

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