Main Cast: Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica, Jean Debucourt, Mireille Perrey
Release Year: 1953
Country: IT/FR
Run Time: 105 minutes
Plot
Max Ophüls' masterpiece stars Danielle Darrieux as the titular Madame Louise de..., who in the film's opening scenes is forced to discreetly sell a pair of earrings, a gift from her military officer husband Andre (Charles Boyer), in order to make good on her debts. After she claims the earrings to be lost, the story of their possible theft hits the newspapers, prompting the jeweler who bought them (Jean Debucourt) to secretly sell them back to Andre, who then gives him to his mistress Lola (Lia Di Leo) as she prepares to leave for a holiday in Constantinople. There, the earrings again change hands as Lola pawns them to cover her gambling losses. They are then purchased by Donati, an Italian diplomat (Vittorio de Sica) on his way to France to meet with Andre. Of course, the earrings soon find their way back to Louise. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Review
A wonderful companion piece to director Max Ophüls' La Ronde, Madame de... spins a similar tale of serial affairs among the rich and idle. But its darker tone has rightfully earned its status as the filmmaker's great triumph. A minority camp would give the nod to Lola Montès. The pair of earrings which pass from hand to hand come to symbolize deception and greed, pawns in silly games of love. Ophüls connects his characters with a camera (directed by his frequent collaborator Christian Matras) which glides in and out of well-appointed rooms, suggesting that there are no degrees of separation in this world. Few filmmakers could match Ophüls' talent for exposing the need among the wealthy and titled to keep up appearances. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
Paul Azäis; Madeleine Barbulee - Mme. de . . .'s Friend; Jean Galland - M de Bernac; Serge Lecointe - Jerome; Hubert Noel - Henri de Maleville; Leon Walther - Theater manager; Lea di Lea - Lola, general's mistress; Lia Di Leo - Lola; Guy Favieres - Julien
