Carola (1973) (TV)

Director:

Norman Lloyd

Writers:

James Bridges (teleplay)
Angela Goldsby (translation)

Release Date:

6 February 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

During World War II, an acting company in occupied Paris is notified that a German officer will be stopping by to see their play...

Plot Keywords:

Actor's Life | Stage Show | Love Triangle | Intimacy | Actress

Cast

Leslie Caron	...	Carola
Mel Ferrer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Albert Paulsen
Michael Sacks
Carmen Zapata
Anthony Zerbe

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Community Television of Southern California

Trivia:

Jean Renoir, who wrote the play the film is based on, was scheduled to direct this film. However, shortly before shooting was to begin Renoir fell ill, and he asked producer Norman Lloyd to take over direction.

I remember this TV play after 31 years

This is the story of a Parisian acting troupe during World War II that has to accommodate itself to the occupying force. As the story progresses, it is slowly revealed that the troupe's star (Leslie Caron) once had a love affair with the German officer who is expected to drop by (Mel Ferrar). I still remember as poignant the moment when the troupe's manager (Anthony Zerbe), who is also the star's lover, asks Caron to play along with Ferrar (whom Zerbe assumes is just another fan) for the sake of the theater--then realizes with quiet alarm that she has had a past relationship with Ferrar and is still in love with him. Zerbe's subtle reaction to this realization gets across that he always knew this day was coming--when his good fortune of being the lover of this beautiful, desirable woman would fizzle away--but that he's aghast to find that the day is today and that the other man is a Nazi officer. Zerbe is a standout in this TV play. I'd love to see it again.