''Male Companion'' () is a 1964

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

written and directed by

Philippe de Broca Philippe Claude Alex de Broca de Ferrussac (; 15 March 1933 – 26 November 2004) was a French film director. He directed 30 full-length feature films, including the highly successful ''That Man from Rio (''L'Homme de Rio'')'', ''Le Magnifique, ...

, based on the 1961 novel ''Gentleman in Waiting'' by André Couteaux. The film stars

Jean-Pierre Cassel Jean-Pierre Cassel (; born Jean-Pierre Crochon; 27 October 1932 – 19 April 2007) was a French actor and dancer. A popular star of French cinema, he was initially known for his comedy film appearances, though he also proved a gifted dramatic a ...

Plot

Antoine was raised into the easy life by his wealthy grandfather. Following the death of his grandfather, the money has gone and Antoine falls under the influence of various "easy" people.

Cast

as Antoine Mirliflor * Irina Demick as Nicole *

Catherine Deneuve Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born 22 October 1943), known professionally as Catherine Deneuve (, , ), is a French actress. She is considered one of the greatest European actresses on film. In 2020, ''The New York Times'' ranked her as one of th ...

as Isabelle *

Annie Girardot Annie Suzanne Girardot (25 October 193128 February 2011) was a French actress. She often played strong-willed, independent, hard-working, and often lonely women, imbuing her characters with an earthiness and reality that endeared her to women un ...

as Clara * Valérie Lagrange as Louisette *

Sandra Milo Sandra Milo (born Salvatrice Elena Greco; 11 March 1933 – 29 January 2024) was an Italian actress, television personality, author, and musician. She won a Nastro d'Argento for Best Supporting Actress for each of her roles in Federico Fellin ...

as Maria *

Adolfo Celi Adolfo Celi (; 27 July 1922 – 19 February 1986) was an Italian film actor and director. Born in Curcuraci, Messina, Sicily, Celi appeared in nearly 100 films, specialising in international villains. Although a prominent actor in Italian ...

as Benvenuto * Dalio as Socratès * André Luguet as the grandfather *

Jean-Pierre Marielle Jean-Pierre Marielle (12 April 1932 – 24 April 2019) was a French actor. He appeared in more than a hundred films in which he played very diverse roles, from a banal citizen (''Les Galettes de Pont-Aven''), to a World War II hero (''Les Milles ...

as Balthazar * as Ernestine * Renée Passeur as the boss *

Rosy Varte Rosy Varte (22 November 1923 – 14 January 2012) was a French actress of Armenian descent. She made more than 100 film and television appearances during her career. She starred in the 1972 film '' The Bar at the Crossing'', which was ente ...

as Isabelle's mother *

Sacha Briquet Sacha Briquet (1930–2010) was a French actor, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Biography He notably played the character of in the children's television program L'Île aux enfants. He signed a book of memories, ''Comédien, pourquoi pas?'', publish ...

as the authorised representative *

Jacques Dynam Jacques Dynam (30 December 1923 – 11 November 2004) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 150 films between 1942 and 2004, among which the ''Fantomas'' saga. Selected filmography * ''La symphonie fantastique'' (1942) - (uncre ...

as Isabelle's father * as the notary *

Jean-Claude Brialy Jean-Claude Brialy (30 March 1933 – 30 May 2007) was a French actor and film director. Early life Brialy was born in Aumale (now Sour El-Ghozlane), French Algeria, where his father was stationed with the French Army. Brialy moved to mainland ...

as the prince *

Mino Doro Mino Doro (6 May 1903 – 13 April 1992) was an Italian actor who appeared in more than a hundred films between 1932 and 1970. Doro generally played supporting and character roles. He appeared as a blackshirt in the 1934 Fascist propaganda f ...

as Professor Gaetano (uncredited) * Rosemary Dexter as a student (uncredited) *

Memmo Carotenuto Memmo Carotenuto (23 August 1908 – 23 December 1980) was an Italian actor. He appeared in 125 films between 1941 and 1980. Selected filmography *'' The Wedding Trip'' (1969) * '' Assassination in Rome'' (1965) * '' Male Companion'' (196 ...

as the policeman in Rome (uncredited) * Giustino Durano as the baker (uncredited) * Geneviève Fontanel as Socratès's friend (uncredited)

Reception

According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $1.4 million in rentals to break even and made $780,000, meaning it made a loss.

References

External links

*
Review
in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' by

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though some ...

1964 films 1964 comedy films 1960s French films 1960s French-language films 1960s Italian films Films based on French novels Films directed by Philippe de Broca Films scored by Georges Delerue Films set in London Films set in Paris Films set in Rome Films shot in London Films shot in Paris Films shot in Rome Films shot in Val-d'Oise French comedy films French-language Italian films Italian comedy films {{1960s-France-film-stub