Zouzou (film)
Zouzou is a French film by Marc Allégret released in 1934.[1] As its star, Josephine Baker was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture.
| Zouzou | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Marc Allégret |
| Produced by | Arys Nissotti |
| Written by | Carlo Rim |
| Starring | Josephine Baker Jean Gabin |
| Music by | Vincent Scotto Georges Van Parys Alain Romans |
| Cinematography | Michel Kelber Jacques Mercanton |
| Edited by | Denise Batcheff |
Production company | Les Films H. Roussillon Productions Arys |
| Distributed by | Corona Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
It was shot at the Joinville Studios in Paris, with sets designed by the art directors Lazare Meerson and Alexandre Trauner.
Plot
As children, Zouzou and Jean are paired in a traveling circus as twins: she's dark, he's light. After they're grown, he treats her as if she were his sister, but she is in love with him. In Paris, he's a music hall electrician and she's a laundress who delivers clean underwear to the hall. She introduces him to Claire, her friend at work, and the couple fall in love. Jean conspires to get the show's star out of town and for the theater manager to see the high-spirited Zouzou dance. When Jean is accused of a murder that Zouzou witnesses, she needs money to mount his defense. She pleads to go on stage, where her singing and dancing are a triumph. During her debut, she sees a newspaper photo of the murderer, who has been arrested for a bank robbery, so she rushes to the police station to identify him. Jean is released from jail and is reunited with Claire. Zouzou continues to pine for him despite her successful stage career.
Cast
- Josephine Baker as Zouzou, the orphan mulatto
- Jean Gabin as Jean, an orphan
- Pierre Larquey as Father Mélé, fairground
- Claire Gerard as Ms Vallee, the laundress
- Yvette Lebon as Claire Vallee, the daughter
- Illa Meery as Miss Barbara, the star of music hall
- Madeleine Guitty as Josette, clothing
- Marcel Vallée as Mr Horn, director of music-hall
- Teddy Michaud as Julot
- Pierre Palau as Mr. de Saint-Lévy, the protector
- Floyd Smith as The ballet master of the journal
- Viviane Romance as The girl attablée
- Philippe Richard as The Police Commissioner
- Robert Seller as The Sponsor
- Roger Blin as A witness to the murder
- Georges Van Parys as Pianist
References
- Canby, Vincent (10 February 1989). "Princess Tam Tam (1935) Review/Film; Tam Tam,' Starring Baker". The New York Times.
External links