''Le Plaisir'' (English title, ''House of Pleasure'') is a 1952 French comedy-drama anthology film by German-born film director

Max Ophüls Maximillian Oppenheimer (; 6 May 1902 – 26 March 1957), known as Max Ophüls (; ), was a German-French film director who worked in Germany (1931–1933), France (1933–1940 and 1950–1957), and the United States (1947–1950). He made near ...

(1902–1957) adapting three short stories by

Guy de Maupassant Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant (, ; ; 5 August 1850 – 6 July 1893) was a 19th-century French author, remembered as a master of the short story form, as well as a representative of the Naturalist school, who depicted human lives, destin ...

— " Le Masque" (1889), " La Maison Tellier" (1881), and " Le Modèle" (1883). ''Le Plaisir'' was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction, going to Ophüls. This was the last of Ophüls' two Oscar nominations in his career.

Plot

''Le Masque''

A masked young dandy goes to an ornate dance hall, where he finds a young woman to be his dance partner. When he faints from the exertion, a doctor is called. He discovers that the dandy's mask hides his aged appearance. The doctor takes the old man home to his patient wife. She explains that her husband Ambroise used to attract the ladies who frequented the hairdresser salon where he worked, but in the space of two years, he lost his looks. He goes out in disguise in an attempt to recapture his youth.

''La Maison Tellier''

Julia Tellier, the well-respected madam of a small-town brothel, takes her girls on an outing to her brother's village to attend the First Communion of her niece. Her regular patrons are taken aback when they discover the brothel closed without explanation that Saturday night. One finally discovers a sign explaining the reason and is relieved. At the village, everyone is very impressed by the group of elegant ladies who have appeared to support the girl at her First Communion. The prostitutes are moved to tears by the ceremony, as is the rest of the congregation. Julia's brother Joseph becomes infatuated with Rosa, one of her workers, and promises to visit next month.

''Le Modèle''

A painter falls in love with his model. Things are idyllic at first, but after living together for a while, they begin to quarrel constantly. Finally, he moves in with his friend. She eventually finds him, but he wants no more to do with her. He ignores her threat to jump from a window, and is so guilt-ridden when she does so immediately that he marries her.

Cast

;''Le Masque'' * Claude Dauphin as the doctor *

Gaby Morlay Gaby Morlay (born Blanche Pauline Fumoleau; 8 June 1893 – 4 July 1964) was a film actress from France.

as Denise, Ambroise's wife *

Paul Azaïs Paul François Robert Azaïs (6 May 1902 – 17 November 1974) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1929 and 1966. Selected filmography * '' The Three Masks'' (1929) - Le fils Vescotelli * ''Le défenseur'' ( ...

as a dance hall patron * Gaby Bruyère as Frimousse, Ambroise's dance partner *

Jean Galland Jean Galland (1887–1967) was a French film actor. Selected filmography * '' Fantômas'' (1932) * ''The Oil Sharks'' (1933) * ''The Barber of Seville'' (1933) * '' The Scandal'' (1934) * '' Princesse Tam Tam'' (1935) * ''Whirlpool of Desire'' (1 ...

as Ambroise ;''La Maison Tellier'' * Madeleine Renaud as Julia Tellier *

Ginette Leclerc Ginette Leclerc (born Geneviève Lucie Menut; February 9, 1912 – January 2, 1992) was a French film actress. She appeared in nearly 90 films between 1932 and 1978. Her last TV appearance was in 1981. She was born in Ile-de-France, France ...

as Madame Flora, one of Julia's girls * Mila Parély as Madame Raphaële, another of Julia's employees *

Danielle Darrieux Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux (; 1 May 1917 – 17 October 2017) was a French actress of stage, television and film, as well as a singer and dancer. Beginning in 1931, she appeared in more than 110 films. She was one of France's g ...

as Madame Rosa, another worker *

Pierre Brasseur Pierre Brasseur (22 December 1905 – 16 August 1972), born Pierre-Albert Espinasse, was a French actor. Biography The son of actors Georges Espinasse and Germaine Brasseur, the latter a cousin of Albert Brasseur; his grandfather, Jules B ...

as Julien Ledentu, a traveling salesman who becomes too fresh with the girls on the train trip *

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976) was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films including ''Pépé le Moko'' (1937), '' La grande illusion'' (1937), ''Le Quai des brumes'' ...

as Joseph Rivet, Julia's brother * Amédée as Frédéric, another whorehouse employee * Antoine Balpêtré as Monsieur Poulain, a patron *

René Blancard René Blancard (12 March 1897 – 5 November 1965) was a French film actor. He appeared in 80 films between 1922 and 1965. Selected filmography * '' The Mysteries of Paris'' (1922) - Bras-Rouge * ''Montmartre'' (1925) - Frédéric Charanç ...

as the mayor * Mathilde Casadesus as Madame Louise, another worker * Henri Crémieux as Monsieur Pimpesse *

Arthur Devère Arthur Devère (24 June 1883 – 23 September 1961) was a Belgian film actor. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1913 and 1956. Selected filmography * ''L'agent Rigolo et son chien policier'' (1913) * ''Flup chasseur'' (1920) * ''L ...

as the train conductor *

Paulette Dubost Paulette may refer to: * Paulette (name), French feminine given name * Paulette (tax) * Paulette Caveat - a caveat filed in 1973 by a group of Dene chiefs at the land titles office in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories to gain a legal interest in ...

as Madame Fernande, another employee *Jocelyne Jany as Constance Rivet, Julia's niece *Robert Lombard as Monsieur Philippe, the banker's son, a patron *

Héléna Manson Elena Eugenia Manson (18 August 1898 – 15 September 1994) was a French film actress. She appeared in more than 100 films between 1925 and 1989. Selected filmography * ''La vocation d'André Carel'' (1925) – L'amoureuse de Cardan * '' T ...

as Marie Rivet, Joseph's wife *

Georges Baconnet Georges Baconnet (1892–1961) was a French stage and film actor.Gabanelli & Mattirolo p.47 He was a member of the Comédie-Française from 1946 to his death. Selected filmography * '' The Last Judgment'' (1945) * '' La carcasse et le tord-cou'' ...

as Un client de la maison Tellie ;''Le Modèle'' *

Jean Servais Jean Servais (; 24 September 1910 – 17 February 1976) was a Belgian film and stage actor. He acted in many 20th century French cinema productions, from the 1930s through the early 1970s. He was married to Gilberte Graillot, and later act ...

as Jean's friend, also narrator of the French version *

Daniel Gélin Daniel Yves Alfred Gélin (19 May 1921 – 29 November 2002) was a French film and television actor. Early life Gélin was born in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, the son of Yvonne (née Le Méner) and Alfred Ernest Joseph Gélin. When he was ten, ...

as Jean, the painter *

Simone Simon Simone Thérèse Fernande Simon (23 April 1910 or 1911 – 22 February 2005) was a French film actress who began her film career in 1931. Early life Born in Marseille, France, she was the daughter of Henri Louis Firmin Clair Simon, a French J ...

as Joséphine, the model

References

External links

*
''Le plaisir: Life Is Movement''
an essay by Robin Wood at the Criterion Collection
"Max Ophul's ''le Plaisir''"
at the MOMA website {{DEFAULTSORT:Plaisir 1952 films 1950s romantic comedy-drama films French anthology films French black-and-white films French romantic comedy-drama films Films about fictional painters Films about old age Films about prostitution in France Films based on works by Guy de Maupassant Films directed by Max Ophüls 1950s French-language films Films based on short fiction Films based on multiple works 1952 comedy films 1952 drama films Columbia Pictures films 1950s French films