''The Parisian'' (original French title: ''Une parisienne'') is a 1957 French comedy film starring
Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer (; 28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978) was a French-American actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American fi ...
, Henri Vidal and Brigitte Bardot. directed by Michel Boisrond. Bardot plays the daughter of the French President who marries her father's secretary, but the couple become jealous of each other's purported sexual flings. Costumes are by Pierre Balmain. Dialogue is in French, with dubbed versions in other languages.
Plot
Brigitte Laurier, daughter of the
President of France
The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country, the po ...
, is in love with Michel Legrand, her father's womanizing chief of staff. However, he repeatedly shuts down Brigitte's sexual advances, so she appoints herself to an internship as his secretary.
She eventually tricks Michel into delivering papers to the President, who is spending the weekend in the countryside. Michel's former mistress, Caroline d'Herblay, and her politician husband are also there, and she insists that Michel stay the weekend.
Michel and Mrs. d'Herblay reunite secretly in the woods. As she slips out of her room later that night to be with Michel, her suspecting husband follows her. Meanwhile, Brigitte heads to Michel's room, surprises him and announces she wants to be his mistress, promising never to speak of marriage. They kiss, but Mrs. d'Herblay walks in on them. A jealous Mr. d'Herblay wakes up everyone in the house—i.e., the
Cabinet of France
The Government of France (, ), officially the Government of the French Republic (, ), exercises executive power in France. It is composed of the prime minister, who is the head of government, as well as both senior and junior ministers.
Th ...
—as they investigate who is in Michel's room. While Mrs. d'Herblay hides, Brigitte is revealed to be in Michel's bed in front of everyone, embarrassing the President. Not wanting to cause a scandal, Michel and Brigitte are forced to be married by her father. However, Brigitte is sure Michel will eventually cheat on her.
Prince Charles later starts his state visit to France. While preparing to go to the gala ball, Mrs. Wilson, another one of Michel's previous mistresses, calls Michel—not realising he is married now—and Brigitte picks up. Sure that Michel is having an affair with Mrs. Wilson, Brigitte confronts him at the ball. Michel laughs it off, but in a fit of jealously, Brigitte declares she will cheat on him with the next person to walk through the door. Michel laughs and bids her good luck as Charles is that person. Not backing down, she starts flirting with Charles. Becoming jealous, Michel slaps Brigitte in public and brings her home.
The next morning, Mrs. Wilson calls again. Brigitte answers and sets up lunch for Mrs. Wilson and Michel for that afternoon. Mrs. Wilson shows up, still infatuated with Michel, and kisses him as Brigitte watches. Brigitte plays the role of maid, but is surly as she serves Mrs. Wilson. Michel's office calls and Brigitte picks up. She pretends to be having a phone conversation with Charles and later says that she is going to the embassy to meet him. Meanwhile, Mrs. Wilson storms off after finding out Brigitte is Michel's wife. As the women leave, Michel's office calls back, and he realises Brigitte lied about having a date with Charles.
However, she does go to the
embassy
A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a Sovereign state, state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase ...
and meets Charles, who decides to cancel his plan to open a nursery with the Queen and instead spend the afternoon with Brigitte. He offers to fly her in a new fighter jet to have tea with the Queen of the United Kingdom, and Brigitte accepts. At the airport, Brigitte calls Michel to brag that she is flying with Charles. However, Michel does not believe her. As they fly off, Charles decides not to go to
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, but instead fly to
Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millioncrosses her fingers.
Cast
*
Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer (; 28 August 1899 – 26 August 1978) was a French-American actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found his success in American fi ...
Noël Roquevert
Noël Roquevert (born Noël Louis Raymond Bénévent; 18 December 1892 – 6 November 1973) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1932 and 1972. Roquevert was born in Doué-la-Fontaine and was married ...
as Fernand le Barman
* Claire Maurier as Caroline Herblay
* Robert Pizani as Ambassador Mouchkine
* Guy Tréjan as Le colonel d'aviation
* Judith Gray as Irma
* Harry-Max as L'ambassadeur (as Harry Max)
* Marcel Charvey as Un mauvais garçon
* Vera Talchi as Titine
* Marcel Pérès as Le général (as Marcel Pérés)
* Henri Cogan as Un bagarreur
* Hubert de Lapparent as L'huissier du président
* Nadia Gray as Le reine Greta
* André Luguet as Alcide Laurier
Reception
United Artists acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the film for $550,000, marking a record-setting agreement for a foreign film in the United States.The film went on to achieve tremendous success worldwide, earned $3 million in profits outside the United States for producer Raoul Lévy.