Ils Étaient Neuf Célibataires
Tit. It.: “Erano Nove Celibi”; Scen.: Sacha Guitry; F.: Victor Armenise; M.: Maurice Serein; Scgf.: Jacques Colombier; Mu.: Adolphe Borchard; Int.: Sacha Guitry (Jean Lécuyer), Elvire Popesco (La Contessa Stacia Batchefskaïa), Geneviéve De Séréville (Joan May), Marguerite Pierry (Isabelle Patureau), Betty Stockfeld (Margaret Brown), Marguerite Moreno (Consuelo Rodriguez), Marguerite Deval (Madame Picaillon De Cheniset), Pauline Carton (Clémentine), La Principessa Chyo (Mi-Ha-Hou), Christiane Isola, Simone Paris (Cameriere), Yvonne Yma (La Massaia), Luce Fabiole (La Signora Dello Spogliatoio), Marie José (La Figia Di Consuelo), Marthe Sarbel (La Cuoca), Marguerite De Morlaye (Un’invitata), Solange Varennes (Una Soubrette), Max Dearly (Athanase Outriquet), André Lefaur (Adolphe), Saturnin Fabre (Adhémar Colombinet De La Jonchére), Victor Boucher (Alexandre), Aimos (Agénor), Sinoël (Amédée), Gaston Dubosc (Antonin), Georges Morton (Aristide), Anthony Gildés (Anatole), Gustave Libeau (Monsignor Keaquemops), Henri Crémieux (Louise), Jaques Erwin (Julien De Béneval), George Grey (Michel Servais), Léon Walther (Il Maître D’hotel ); Prod: Film Gibé/Joseph Bercholz; 35mm. L.: 3413 M. D.: 125’. Bn.
Film Notes
Guitry wrote and directed a wild divertissement, which nevertheless finds its starting point from a current problem. The first scene is set in a restaurant. At a table, Guitry explains to a friend his work as a “middleman”. He is tempted by an honest career, but he has never found the occasion to realise his ambitions: “the story of a cheat” continues. A Rumanian countess (Elvire Popesco) takes a seat at a nearby table. Guitry falls in love with her. But here comes a newsvendor: a new emergency decree forces all foreign women to leave France. Panic for the countess and fun for Sacha. Here’s the plan: sell old, poor bachelors, hired through announcements for weddings that will not be consummated, to rich foreign women that want to stay in France. Nine clients accept Guitry’s nine bachelors, who present themselves at their spouse’s houses. All variations are possible on this theme and Guitry willingly takes advantage to tell a rich and biting story featuring virtuous actors. Baubles before the massacre: the first of these fireworks takes place in Vittel on 30 August 1939.
Pierre Billard, L’âge classique du cinéma français, Paris 1995