Monsieur Ripois (1954)
Director:
René Clémen
Writers:
Louis Hémon (novel), Hugh Mills (adaptation)Stars:
Gérard Philipe, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood
English subtitles.
Rene Clement's Monsieur Ripois was released in English-speaking countries as The Knave of Hearts and Lovers, Happy Lovers. Relying heavily on voiceover narration and subjective camerawork, the film has Gerard Phillipe in the title role. Believing himself to be love with his wife's best friend (Natasha Parry), Ripois pours out his heart to her by recounting his past amours. Though he has known many women, he has never truly loved any of them. This has proved more troublesome for Ripois than for the ladies in his life, but somehow he never learns his lesson--not even during the film's final scene. British actresses Valerie Hobson and Joan Greenwood are well cast as Ripois' wife and former girlfriend, respectively, while Germaine Montero has an effective cameo as a warm-hearted prostitute.
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Monsieur Ripois (the film) is a Real Gem!
Gérard Philipe is great. Although the story takes place in London, England, it is very French in spirit. Making a movie like that in the Me Too era would be unthinkable but one must keep in mind that it was produced in 1953.
