''The Winner's Circle'' (French: ''Premières armes'') is a 1950 French
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
directed by
René Wheeler
René Wheeler (8 February 1912 - 11 December 2000) was a French screenwriter and film director. He co-wrote the story of the film ''A Cage of Nightingales'' (1945) with Georges Chaperot, for which they both received an Academy Award nomination i ...
and starring
Michèle Alfa
Michèle Alfa (born Joséphine Blanche Alfreda Bassignot; August 20, 1911 – August 24, 1987) was a French stage and film actress. After appearing mainly in supporting roles during the 1930s she starred in a number of films during the 1940s.
D ...
,
Julien Carette
Julien Henri Carette (23 December 1897 – 20 July 1966) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1964.
Selected filmography
* '' American Love'' (1931)
* ''George and Georgette'' (1934)
* ''My Heart Is ...
and
Paul Frankeur
Paul Frankeur (29 June 1905 - 27 October 1974) was a French actor who appeared in films by Jacques Tati (''Jour de fête'') and Luis Buñuel (''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'' and ''The Phantom of Liberty''). He was sometimes credited a ...
.
[Crisp p.309]
The film takes place in a
stable
A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept. It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals and livestock. There are many different types of stables in use today; the ...
for aspiring young
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
s.
Cast
*
Michèle Alfa
Michèle Alfa (born Joséphine Blanche Alfreda Bassignot; August 20, 1911 – August 24, 1987) was a French stage and film actress. After appearing mainly in supporting roles during the 1930s she starred in a number of films during the 1940s.
D ...
as Yvonne
*
Julien Carette
Julien Henri Carette (23 December 1897 – 20 July 1966) was a French film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1931 and 1964.
Selected filmography
* '' American Love'' (1931)
* ''George and Georgette'' (1934)
* ''My Heart Is ...
as Simon
*
Guy Decomble as Émile
*
Paul Frankeur
Paul Frankeur (29 June 1905 - 27 October 1974) was a French actor who appeared in films by Jacques Tati (''Jour de fête'') and Luis Buñuel (''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'' and ''The Phantom of Liberty''). He was sometimes credited a ...
as Victor
*
Serge Grave as Michel
*
Henri Poupon
Henri Poupon (1884–1953) was a French stage and film actor.Paietta p.128 He worked a number of times with the write-director Marcel Pagnol.
Selected filmography
* ''The Fortune'' (1931)
* ''To the Polls, Citizens'' (1932)
* ''Angèle'' (1934)
* ...
as Le père Lelarge
*
Roger Rafal as Barrymore
*
Santa Relli as Lucienne
*
Jean Cordier as René
*
Palmyre Levasseur
Palmyre Levasseur (24 December 1888 – 4 August 1963) was a French stage actor, stage and film actress.Aping p.234
Selected filmography
* ''Culprit (1937 film), Culprit'' (1937)
* ''Tricoche and Cacolet'' (1938)
* ''The Mondesir Heir'' (1940)
* ' ...
as La concierge
*
Suzanne Maury as La duchesse
*
Albert Plantier as Josito
*
Serge Soltani as Bobo
References
Bibliography
* Crisp, C.G. ''The Classic French Cinema, 1930-1960''. Indiana University Press, 1993.
External links
*
1950 films
1950 drama films
French drama films
1950s French-language films
Films directed by René Wheeler
French horse racing films
French black-and-white films
1950s French films
{{1950s-France-film-stub