Le Plaisir

Le Plaisir (English title, House of Pleasure) is a 1952 French comedy-drama anthology film by German-born film director Max Ophüls (19021957) adapting three short stories by Guy de Maupassant — "Le Masque" (1889), "La Maison Tellier" (1881), and "Le Modèle" (1883).

Le Plaisir
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMax Ophüls
Produced byMax Ophüls
M. Kieffer
Édouard Harispuru
Screenplay byJacques Natanson
Max Ophüls
Story byGuy de Maupassant
StarringClaude Dauphin
Jean Galland
Gaby Morlay
Madeleine Renaud
Daniel Gélin
Danielle Darrieux
Simone Simon
Jean Gabin
Music byJoe Hajos
Maurice Yvain
CinematographyPhilippe Agostini
Christian Matras
Edited byLeonide Azar
Distributed byColumbia
Release date
  • 14 February 1952 (1952-02-14)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench

Le Plaisir was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction, going to Max Ophuls. This was Ophuls' last of 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 Modèle

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
La Maison Tellier
Le Modèle

References

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