Porte des Lilas (1957)

Director:

René Clair

Writers:

René Clair (screenplay) &
René Fallet (novel) ...

Release Date:

14 January 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

An old bum becomes infatuated with a pretty young girl who gets entangled with a young gangster.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Drinking | Fugitive | Double Cross | Artist

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Pierre Brasseur	...	Juju
Georges Brassens	...	L'Artiste
Henri Vidal	...	Pierre Barbier
Dany Carrel	...	Maria
Raymond Bussières	...	Alphonse
Gabrielle Fontan	...	Madame Sabatier
Amédée	...	Paulo - un habitué du café
Annette Poivre	...	Nénette
Alain Bouvette	...	Le copain de Paulo
Alice Tissot	...	La concierge

Also Known As:

Gate of Lilacs
Quartiere dei lillà (Italy)
The Gates of Paris (USA)

Runtime:

95 min | USA:106 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | France:U (re-release) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Studios de Boulogne-Billancourt/SFP - 2 Rue de Silly, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company:

Filmsonor

Trivia:

Italian censorship visa #25175 delivered on 14 September 1957.

For Georges Brassens alone this movie is worthwhile

I've seen this movie in my teens, still going to school. Enjoyed it tremendously. For the romance, the atmosphere, but above all for the appearance of Georges Brassens with his songs. And all this happened in this end of nowhere neighborhood Port Des Lilas, of all places. It was then that I started buying French records and mostly Brassens, but also Ferre, Brel etc. That scene where they climb the garden wall, I can still see that happening for my inner eye. This movie gave me a similar impression and experience as movies like Le Notti di Cabiria and La Strada. I suppose my age had something to do with that, but I long to see it again.