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Madame (1961 film)

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Wikipedia article




'Madame Sans-Gne' is a 1961 Spanish-Italian-French film co-production, filmed in Eastmancolor and Technirama, and distributed in the United States by Embassy Pictures. The film was directed by Christian-Jaque and adapted from the 1893 play by Victorien Sardou and mile Moreau.

The film stars Sophia Loren and a cast of French and Italian players, including Robert Hossein, Julien Bertheau, Renaud Mary, La Gray, Gianrico Tedeschi, and Marina Berti.

Background



'Madame Sans-Gne' has a legendary history in France. It is based on the life of Catherine Hbscher, born in Goldbach-Altenbach (Haut-Rhin) in 1753. She started off as a laundress who used to wash and iron Napoleon's clothes when he was a common corporal. She married Franois Joseph Lefebvre, an army sergeant who became Marshal of France and was later elevated by Napoleon I to the rank of Duke of Danzig. She was known by the nickname of Madame Sans-Gne, (literally 'Mrs No Embarrassment') because of her behaviour, free speech and lack of proper manners at court.

The play by Victorien Sardou and mile Moreau were extremely popular. It was later serialised in novel form by Raymond Lepelletier.

The role was played on stage by Rjane, in France, England and New York and who also brought it to the screen twice, in 1900 and 1911. In 1924, silent screen star Gloria Swanson played the title role and it was an international box-office success. In 1941, it was played by Arletty. In 1945, it was made into an Argentinian film. The story was also the subject of the opera 'Madame Sans-Gne' by Umberto Giordano which had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in 1915.

The 1961 film featured a FRF6 million budget, lavish period sets, and costumes designed for Loren by Marcel Escoffier and Itala Scandariato.

See also



* List of Technirama films


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