''The Beautiful Image'' (French: ''La belle image'') is a 1951 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Claude Heymann Claude Heymann (13 November 1907 – 13 April 1994) was a French screenwriter and film director.Frey p.78 Selected filmography * ''American Love (film), American Love'' (1931) * ''Idylle au Caire'' (1933) * ''The Brighton Twins'' (1936) * ''P ...

and starring

Frank Villard Frank Villard (24 March 1917 – 19 September 1980) was a French film actor.Goble p.121 He was born François Drouineau in Saint-Jean-d'Angély. Selected filmography * '' The Last of the Six'' (1941) - Un homme (uncredited) * ''Cartacalha, rein ...

, Françoise Christophe and

Pierre Larquey Pierre Larquey (10 July 1884 – 17 April 1962) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1913 and 1962. Born in Cénac, Gironde, France, he died in Maisons-Laffitte at the age of 77. Selected filmography * ''Patr ...

.Frey p.78 The film's sets were designed by the art director

Robert Hubert Robert Hubert (c. 1640 – 27 October 1666) was a watchmaker from Rouen, France, who was executed following his false confession of starting the Great Fire of London. Great Fire of London Between 2 and 6 September 1666, a major fire broke o ...

. It was based on the 1941 novel of the same title by

Marcel Aymé Marcel Aymé (29 March 1902 – 14 October 1967) was a French novelist and playwright, who also wrote screenplays and works for children. Biography Marcel André Aymé was born in Joigny, in the Burgundy region of France, the youngest of six ...

Synopsis

The face of a modest, quiet man unexpectedly changes one day into a handsome, vigorous one. He becomes a swaggering womaniser who none of his former acquaintances recognise. He even seduces his own wife in his new personae.

Cast

as Raoul Cérusier / Roland Colbert * Françoise Christophe as Renée Cérusier *

as L'oncle Antonin * Suzanne Flon as Lucienne Chenal * Robert Dalban as Julien Gauthier * Junie Astor as La Sarrazine *

Olivier Hussenot Olivier Hussenot (10 September 1913 – 25 August 1978) was a French theatre and film actor. Career The actor appeared in French, Italian and American films. Selected filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hussenot, Oliv ...

as Le commissaire *

Arlette Merry Arlette Merry (18 March 1918 – 19 February 2015) was a French actress and singer. She was the daughter of Lucien Pinoteau and the sister of Claude Pinoteau Claude Pinoteau (25 May 1925 – 5 October 2012) was a French film director a ...

as La concierge * Gilberte Géniat as Annette, la bonne *

Made Siamé Made Siamé (1885–1974) was a French stage and film actress.Goble p.229 Selected filmography * ''Youth'' (1933) * '' The House on the Dune'' (1934) * ''The Mysteries of Paris'' (1935) * ''The Secret of Polichinelle'' (1936) * '' The Alibi'' ( ...

as Mlle Lagorce *

René Clermont René Clermont (14 November 1921 – 24 October 1994) was a French stage and film actor as well as a playwright. Theatre Comedian *1933: ''Trois pour 100'' by Roger Ferdinand, directed by Gabriel Signoret, Théâtre Antoine as Barbouin *194 ...

as L'homme aux cochons d'Inde *

Paul Faivre Paul Faivre (3 March 1886 – 5 March 1973) was a French actor. Selected filmography * '' The House Opposite'' (1937) * '' Behind the Facade'' (1939) * '' Vidocq'' (1939) * ''Annette and the Blonde Woman'' (1942) * ''The Count of Monte Cris ...

as L'employé du bureau B.C.B. *

Ariane Murator Ariane may refer to: *Ariana (name), also Ariane, Arianne Arts * ''Ariane'' (Martinů), an opera by Bohuslav Martinů, first performed 1961 * ''Ariane'' (Massenet), an opera by Jules Massenet, first performed 1906 * ''Ariane'' (film), a 1931 ...

as L'employée du bureau B.C.B. * Roland Armontel as Le pharmacien * Jacques Beauvais as Le maître d'hôtel * Paul Bisciglia *

Louis Bugette Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewi ...

as Le chauffeur de taxi * Claude Castaing * Jean-Jacques Duverger as Jacquot * Gilbert Edard * Lucien Guervil as L'inspecteur * Harry-Max * Gilbert Sauval as Le clochard * Titys as Un employé

References

Bibliography

* Frey, Hugo. ''Louis Malle''. Manchester University Press, 2004.

External links

* 1951 films 1951 drama films French drama films 1950s French-language films Films based on French novels Films based on works by Marcel Aymé Films directed by Claude Heymann French black-and-white films Gaumont Film Company films 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub