Miquette et sa mère (1934)
Directed by Henri Diamant-Berger, André Gillois

Film Review

Whilst it isn't a patch on Henri-Georges Clouzot's more soberly made version, this adaptation of Robert de Flers and Gaston Arman de Caillavet's popular stage play Miquette et sa mère just manages to redeem itself with the ebullient contributions from its charismatic cast.  Blanche Montel and Roland Toutain, two popular young actors of the period (now sadly all but forgotten), would be well-matched as the leads in any romantic comedy, but sadly most of their thunder is decisively stolen by the gang of turbo-charged eccentrics that surround them - Michel Simon, André Alerme and Marcelle Monthil.  In the film, Simon describes himself as the worst actor in the world and then proceeds to show this by stealing ever scene he appears in, although Alerme gives him a good run for his money and gets the best line: he can speak English, but not American!

Clouzot's Miquette et sa mère has its own flaws but it does at least give the impression it was directed by someone of sober disposition, whereas the chaotic 1930s version seems to have been thrown together by a party of deranged drunks.  Henri Diamant-Berger may have distinguished himself earlier in his career - notably with his epic serial Les Trois mousquetaires (1921) - but already he shows signs of fatigue and even less sign of wanting to make a half-decent film.  With rear projection applied so badly it can hardly fail to make you laugh and with a similar lack of care pervading the entire production it's amazing the film's producers ever had the gall to put it in front of a cinema audience.  It looks as if the film's entire budget was blown on Blanche Montel's wardrobe, which includes a fetching Art Deco number.  At least the lively principal cast can be relied on to keep us amused - in just about every other department the film is a total disaster.

Film Synopsis

When Miquette Grandier isn't helping her mother out in her tobacco shop, she dreams of becoming an actress.  A disappointment in love prompts her to take her chance and within no time she has signed herself up with a travelling theatre company run by an ageing thespian, Monsieur Montchablon.  Hearing that his nephew Urbain, a promising tennis champion, has amorous designs on Miquette, the Marquis de la Tour Mirande begins courting her, offering her a life of luxury she can only dream of as an unknown actress.  But fame soon comes Miquette's way and after her triumph in several stage shows, she is ready for her big break in the movies.  On her cruise to New York, Miquette is forced into become engaged to the Marquis to avoid a scandal.  Realising that Urbain loves her, the young starlet decides to elope with him, letting the world think they have been abducted by gangsters...