Movies:
The Young Girls of Rochefort
DVD Release
- Release Date: 2002
- Trailers
- Rating:
- Genre: Musical
- Movie Type: Musical Romance, Musical Comedy
- Themes: Sibling Relationships, Lovers Reunited
- Director: Jacques Demy
- Main Cast: Catherine Deneuve, George Chakiris, Françoise Dorléac, Jacques Perrin, Grover Dale, Gene Kelly
- Release Year: 1967
- Country: FR
- Run Time: 124 minutes
- MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Jacques Demy directed this frothy tribute to the Hollywood musicals of the 1940s, a follow-up to his earlier success The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964). Twin sisters Delphine and Solange (played by real-life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorleac) live in the small coastal town of Rochefort, where they run a school teaching dancing and music. Both feel frustrated in Rochefort, and they dream of travelling to Paris, where they believe romance and opportunity awaits them. Meanwhile, their single mother, Yvonne (Danielle Darrieux), who runs a cafe in town, pines for her lost love, Simon (Michel Piccoli). One day, one of Yvonne's regular customers, a sailor with an artistic bent named Maxence (Jacques Perrin), shows her a painting of the imaginary girl of his dreams, and she looks just like Delphine, whom he's never met. Meanwhile, Simon has returned to Rochefort, bringing with him a close friend, American pianist Andy Miller (Gene Kelly); Simon has made friends with Solange and introduces her to Andy, who immediately falls in love with her. Sadly, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort was Françoise Dorleac's last film; she died in an auto accident shortly after completing the picture. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie GuideReview
When originally released, Jacques Demy's The Young Girls of Rochefort suffered in comparison with his earlier The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, but its reputation has grown in the intervening years. Although not without flaws, Rochefort is a tremendously appealing and utterly engaging musical trifle. Breezy and light, Rochefort is also gorgeous and a delight to the eye; Demy's sense and use of color is practically overwhelming, and is as important to the success of the film as any other element. Much of Michel Legrand's music is buoyant, bubbly and lively, with a distinct jazz bent that pays homage to the Swingle Singers style of vocal harmony. Legrand's more dramatic music is less successful, coming off too often as melodrama. At least in translation, the lyrics are rather too prosaic and don't move the story along as much as could be desired; this is unfortunate, but the film engenders such cheery goodwill in the viewer that he is happy to overlook this and other flaws -- such as the fact that the singing voices of almost all of the leads (including Gene Kelly) are dubbed. Kelly dances wonderfully, as do the marvelous George Chakiris and Grover Dale, and as does the chorus. The choreography itself is too lightweight and forgettable, but the danced basketball segment is impressive. Catherine Deneuve and Francoise Dorleac are sheer delights, and Danielle Darrieux is a treat. Demy followed the frothy Rochefort with the far different, American-made The Model Shop. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie GuideCast
- Catherine Deneuve - Delphine Garnier--sung by Anne Germain
- George Chakiris - Etienne--sung by Romuald
- Françoise Dorléac - Solange Garnier--sung by Claude Parent
- Jacques Perrin - Maxence--sung by Jacques Revaux
- Grover Dale - Bill--sung by Jose Bartel
- Gene Kelly - Andy Miller--sung by Donald Burke
Danielle Darrieux - Yvonne; Genevieve Thenier - Josette--sung by Alice Gerald; Pamela Hart - Judith--sung by Christiane Legrand; Henri Cremieux - Dutrouz; Wendy Barry; Dorothée Blanc - Passerby; Earl W. Brown; Jane Darling; Albin Pahernik; Michel Piccoli - Simon Dame--sung by George Blaness; Jacques Riberolles - Guillaume Lancien--sung by Jean Stout; Sally Stevens; Bill Lee; Agnès Varda - Nun; Robert Tebow; Jackie Ward - Singer; Sue Allen; Veronique Duval; John MacDonald
