''Le Bal du compte d'Orgel'' ( en, The Ball of Count Orgel) is a French film from 1970. It was the last film directed by

Marc Allégret Marc Allégret (22 December 1900 – 3 November 1973) was a French screenwriter, photographer and film director. Biography Born in Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland, he was the elder brother of Yves Allégret. Marc was educated to be a lawyer in ...

, who was also the producer of this film. It was screened at the

1970 Cannes Film Festival The 23rd Cannes Film Festival ran from 3 to 18 May 1970. This year, Robert Favre LeBret, the founder of the festival, decided not to include any films from Russia and Japan (their flags were missing on the Croisette). He was tired of the "Slavi ...

, but wasn't entered into the main competition.

Plot

Based on

Raymond Radiguet Raymond Radiguet (18 June 1903 – 12 December 1923) was a French novelist and poet whose two novels were noted for their explicit themes, and unique style and tone. Early life Radiguet was born in Saint-Maur, Val-de-Marne, close to Paris, th ...

's book of the same name, posthumously published in 1924, the film concerns a

ball A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but can sometimes be ovoid) with several uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used f ...

hosted by the Comte d'Orgel ( en, Count of Orgel). Set in 1920, the Comte hosts a soirée and dance for the upper echelons of Parisian society. One of the guests is a handsome young man named François de Séryeuse (played by Bruno Garcin), who during the course of the ball falls in love with the Comte's wife, Comtesse Mahé (played by Sylvie Fennec). The Comtesse alerts her husband (the Comte), but he dismisses it, seeing de Séryeuse as childish and common. However, Mahé falls for François, and faints with passion on stage during a performance of The Tempest with François. Mahé continues to dream about him, however she is confined in her marriage.

Cast

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 ...

: Le comte Anne d'Orgel ( en, Count Anne of Orgel) * Sylvie Fennec: La comtesse Mahé d'Orgel ( en, Countess Mahé of Orgel) * Bruno Garcin: François de Seyrieuse * Micheline Presle: Madame de Seyrieuse ( en, Mrs. de Seyrieuse) * Gérard Lartigau: Paul Robin *

Sacha Pitoëff Sacha Pitoëff (born Alexandre Pitoëff; 11 March 1920 – 21 July 1990) was a Swiss-born French actor and stage director. Early life and education Pitoëff was born in Geneva, Switzerland, on 11 March 1920, the son of Russian-born parents ...

: Le prince Naoumof ( en, Prince Naoumof) *

Marpessa Dawn Marpessa Dawn (January 3, 1934 – August 25, 2008), also known as Gypsy Marpessa Dawn Menor, was an American-born French actress, as well as a singer and dancer. She is best remembered for her role in the film ''Black Orpheus'' (1959). Biogra ...

: Marie * Claude Gensac: Mademoiselle d'Orgel ( en, Orgel's daughter) * Ginette Leclerc: Hortense d'Austerlitz ( en, Hortense of

Austerlitz Austerlitz may refer to: History * Battle of Austerlitz, an 1805 victory by the French Grand Army of Napoleon Bonaparte Places * Austerlitz, German name for Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic, which gave its name to the Battle of Austerlitz an ...

) * Aly Raffy: Mirza * Marcel Charvey: L'ambassadeur ( en, The

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

) * Béatrice Chatelier: Amina * Max Montavon: Un invité ( en, A guest) * Wendy Nicholls: Hester

References

1970 films Adultery in films French historical drama films 1970s French-language films 1970s historical drama films Films directed by Marc Allégret Films set in 1920 Films based on French novels 1970 drama films 1970s French films {{1970s-France-film-stub