Name: Feux de joie
Genre: Musical
Released: 1939-02-01
Duration: 1 h 35 min
Rating: 5.2
Cast: Ray Ventura, Micheline Cheirel, Marcel Vallée

When the situation did not bode well, Ray Ventura and ses Collégiens hoped for the best ;one of their songs -twice heard as an instrumental in the movie -"tout va très bien madame la marquise " has remained a classic of the French repertoire and mentioned when things go disastrous and yet it's all right.

In 1939, when the war was threatening ,they released this joyful pleasant comedy , a musical ,the plot of which is not unlike "White Christmas " -which is yet to happen.

A group of friends, all musicians , are discharged .But their new civilian life has no appeal for them and their jobs are a bore; so they head for the French Riviera where they are to run a luxury palace ....which is in decay .Even after their renovation, it's hard to find a clientele .But their shrewdness and (mainly) their orchestra will save the place from bankrupcy.

There are really funny situations: to provide a guest with a shower when there's no running water ; to disguise themselves as an Italian count or a sultan to make the people think they have VIP in their rooms;an old maid ,in love with one of the musicians who cannot get rid of her;the bus and its "insane hotel" destination.

There are plenty of songs full of joie de vivre ; "comme tout le monde" is particularly catchy and the performance looks like a true TV clip. Jimmy Gaillard ,who performed in Bing Crosby's shows in NYC , does stunning tap-dance.

Entertaining musical.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The musical genre features stories that combine music, singing, dancing, acting, and often spoken dialogue to tell a story or convey a narrative. Musicals incorporate various elements of drama, music, and choreography to create a cohesive theatrical experience that engages audiences on multiple levels.

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)

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Paul Misraki, André Hornez, and Ray Ventura in Feux de joie (1939)

Feux de joie

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