''Les Belles de nuit'' (US title: ''Beauties of the Night'') is a

1952 Events January–February * January 26 – Black Saturday in Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. * February 6 ** Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, becomes m ...

French language motion picture fantasy directed and written by René Clair who co-produced with Angelo Rizzoli. The film stars Gérard Philipe,

Martine Carol Martine Carol (born Marie-Louise Jeanne Nicolle Mourer; 16 May 1920 – 6 February 1967) was a French film actress. Career Born Maryse Mourer (or Marie-Louise Jeanne Nicolle Mourer) in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, (France), she studied acting und ...

, Gina Lollobrigida and Magali Vendeuil. It was nominated the Venice Film Festival for

Golden Lion The Golden Lion ( it, Leone d'oro) is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguishe ...

(René Clair).

Plot

Impoverished piano teacher and composer Claude ( Gérard Philipe) fantasizes about seducing beautiful rich women. One night a promising dream turns into a nightmare in which he's chased by the violent husbands and brothers of his lovers. He gets up and tries to stay awake for fear of feeling haunted again. Then he meets his neighbour Suzanne ( Magali Vendeuil) who resembles a woman from his dream.

Cast

* Gérard Philipe as Claude *

as Edmee * Gina Lollobrigida as Leila / Cashier * Magali Vendeuil as Suzanne *

Marilyn Buferd Marilyn Buferd (January 30, 1925 – March 27, 1990) was an American film and television actress as well as the winner of both the Miss California and Miss America pageants of 1946. During the latter half of the 1940s and throughout the 1950s, sh ...

as Madame Bonacieux / Postal clerk * Raymond Bussières as Roger the mechanic *

Raymond Cordy Raymond Cordy (9 December 1898 – 23 April 1956) was a French film actor,Youngkin p.466 born Raymond Cordiaux. He appeared in over a hundred and thirty films during his career. Selected filmography * ''Little Lise'' (1930) - Un joueur de billa ...

as Suzanne's father Gaston / Marquis *

Bernard La Jarrige Bernard La Jarrige (25 February 1912 – 29 May 1999) was a French film and television actor.Paietta p.17 His name is sometimes written as Bernard Lajarrige. Selected filmography * '' Orage'' (1938) - Un copain (uncredited) * ''La cité des lumi ...

as Léon, le gendarme / Leon the gendarme *

Albert Michel Albert Michel (1909–1981) was a French stage, film and television actor.Paietta p.40 Selected filmography * ''Je chante'' (1938) - Un laitier (uncredited) * ''Ne bougez plus'' (1941) - Clanpinet * ''Chèque au porteur'' (1941) * ''Fièvres'' ( ...

as Le facteur / Postman * Palau as The Old Gentleman * Jean Parédès as Paul the pharmacist * Paolo Stoppa as Opera director

References

External links

* *
''Les Belles de nuit''
at Films de France Films directed by René Clair French romantic fantasy films 1950s fantasy comedy films 1950s romantic fantasy films Films about composers Films about dreams French fantasy comedy films 1950s French-language films French black-and-white films 1950s French films {{1950s-France-film-stub