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Le Plaisir
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Wikipedia article
'Le Plaisir' (English title, 'House of Pleasure') is a 1952 French comedy-drama anthology film by German-born film director Max Ophls (1902–1957) adapting three short stories by Guy de Maupassant "Le Masque" (1889), "La Maison Tellier" (1881), and "Le Modle" (1883).
'Le Plaisir' was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction, going to Ophls. This was the last of Ophls' two Oscar nominations in his career.
Plot
'Le Masque'
A masked young dandy goes to an ornate dance hall, where he finds a young woman to be his dance partner. When he faints from the exertion, a doctor is called. He discovers that the dandy's mask hides his aged appearance. The doctor takes the old man home to his patient wife. She explains that her husband Ambroise used to attract the ladies who frequented the hairdresser salon where he worked, but in the space of two years, he lost his looks. He goes out in disguise in an attempt to recapture his youth.'La Maison Tellier'
Julia Tellier, the well-respected madam of a small-town brothel, takes her girls on an outing to her brother's village to attend the First Communion of her niece. Her regular patrons are taken aback when they discover the brothel closed without explanation that Saturday night. One finally discovers a sign explaining the reason and is relieved. At the village, everyone is very impressed by the group of elegant ladies who have appeared to support the girl at her First Communion. The prostitutes are moved to tears by the ceremony, as is the rest of the congregation. Julia's brother Joseph becomes infatuated with Rosa, one of her workers, and promises to visit next month.'Le Modle'
A painter falls in love with his model. Things are idyllic at first, but after living together for a while, they begin to quarrel constantly. Finally, he moves in with his friend. She eventually finds him, but he wants no more to do with her. He ignores her threat to jump from a window, and is so guilt-ridden when she does so immediately that he marries her.Cast
;'Le Masque'
*Claude Dauphin as the doctor
*Gaby Morlay as Denise, Ambroise's wife
*Paul Azas as a dance hall patron
*Gaby Bruyre as Frimousse, Ambroise's dance partner
*Jean Galland as Ambroise
;'La Maison Tellier'
*Madeleine Renaud as Julia Tellier
*Ginette Leclerc as Madame Flora, one of Julia's girls
*Mila Parly as Madame Raphale, another of Julia's employees
*Danielle Darrieux as Madame Rosa, another worker
*Pierre Brasseur as Julien Ledentu, a traveling salesman who becomes too fresh with the girls on the train trip
*Jean Gabin as Joseph Rivet, Julia's brother
*Amde as Frdric, another whorehouse employee
*Antoine Balptr as Monsieur Poulain, a patron
*Ren Blancard as the mayor
*Mathilde Casadesus as Madame Louise, another worker
*Henri Crmieux as Monsieur Pimpesse
*Arthur Devre as the train conductor
*Paulette Dubost as Madame Fernande, another employee
*Jocelyne Jany as Constance Rivet, Julia's niece
*Robert Lombard as Monsieur Philippe, the banker's son, a patron
*Hlna Manson as Marie Rivet, Joseph's wife
*Georges Baconnet as Un client de la maison Tellie
;'Le Modle'
*Jean Servais as Jean's friend, also narrator of the French version
*Daniel Glin as Jean, the painter
*Simone Simon as Josphine, the model
References
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