A struggling theatre impressario discovers a young ingenue and revives a scandalous dance to save his career.
Jean Renoir, son of impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, is regarded as one of the greatest of all filmmakers. Beginning in the days of silent cinema, he rose to prominence in the 1930's with a series of humanist works known for their "poetic realism", often focusing on the lives of the working class. He served in both World Wars, creating arguably the finest film about the former The Grand Illusion, and after his comedy of manners and class conflict The Rules of the Game (1939) failed to connect with audiences, fled the Nazi occupation of France for a Hollywood, where he remained for a decade. The 1950's saw Renoir work with color for the first time in a visit to India for his film The River, and he then returned to Europe for a trio of films now viewed as a loose trilogy about art and performance.
French Cancan is a tribute to the Belle Epoque period in French history, and specifically the bohemian world of Montmartre where his father prospered (and where Renoir himself was born). In addition to showcasing the theatrical life; the hustlers who stand behind the scenes and the various performers of music and dance, the story also provides a La Ronde style romantic comedy of bed-hopping and partner-changing, something that would have been significantly censored in Hollywood.
Renoir reunited with the great actor (and war hero) Jean Gabin, star of several of the director's earlier films. Gabin was riding the wave of a major career comeback, and laid to rest a long feud he had with Renoir regarding the latter's departure from France during the war. The rest of the cast includes future New Wave mainstay Michel Piccoli and a cameo from legendary singer Edith Piaf. Film critic Jacques Rivette apprenticed on the production before embarking on his own career as a filmmaker.
Ironically, despite the fact that Renoir had not filmed in Paris in over 15 years, most of the film was shot on a soundstage, in an effort to more fully recreate the time period in his memory, as well as stressing the artifice of the theatre.
In 2010, the film underwent a digital restoration and was re-released to theatres in Europe. It is now regarded as one of Renoir's most personal and enjoyable works.
The film runs 1 hr, 45 min.
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