''Le Bal du compte d'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 took place from 3 to 18 May 1970. Guatemalan author and Nobel Prize laureate Miguel Ángel Asturias served as jury president for the main competition. The ''Grand Prix du Festival International du Film'', then the ...

, but was not 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-des-Fossés, Saint-Maur, Val-de-M ...

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

ball A ball is a round object (usually spherical, but sometimes 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 for s ...

hosted by the Comte d'Orgel (). Set in 1920, the Comte hosts a soirée and dance for the upper echelons of Parisian

society A society () is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. ...

. 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 Passion, the Passion or the Passions may refer to: Emotion * Passion (emotion), a very strong feeling about a person or thing * Passions (philosophy), emotional states as used in philosophical discussions * Stoic passions, various forms of emotio ...

on stage during a performance of

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

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 () * Sylvie Fennec: La comtesse Mahé d'Orgel () * Bruno Garcin: François de Seyrieuse *

Micheline Presle Micheline Presle (; born Micheline Nicole Julia Émilienne Chassagne; 22 August 1922 – 21 February 2024) was a French actress. She was sometimes billed as Micheline Prelle. Starting her career in 1937, she starred or appeared in over 150 films ...

: Madame 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 () *

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

: Marie *

Claude Gensac Claude Gensac (1 March 1927 – 27 December 2016) was a French actress. She appeared in more than 70 films and television productions since 1952. Gensac is the oldest nominee to date in the category César Award for Best Supporting Actress, nomi ...

: Mademoiselle d'Orgel () *

Ginette Leclerc Ginette Leclerc (born Geneviève Lucie Menut; February 9, 1912 – January 2, 1992) was a French film actress. She appeared in nearly 90 films between 1932 and 1978. Her last TV appearance was in 1981. She was born in Ile-de-France, France and ...

: Hortense d'Austerlitz () * Aly Raffy: Mirza *

Marcel Charvey Marcel may refer to: People * Marcel (given name), people with the given name Marcel * Marcel (footballer, born August 1981), Marcel Silva Andrade, Brazilian midfielder * Marcel (footballer, born November 1981), Marcel Augusto Ortolan, Brazilian ...

: L'ambassadeur () * Béatrice Chatelier: Amina *

Max Montavon Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) (1 ...

: Un invité () *

Wendy Nicholls Wendy Nicholls (born 22 May 1937) is an Australian gymnast. She competed in five events at the 1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956, were an inte ...

: Hester

References

1970 films Films about adultery 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 Films based on works by Raymond Radiguet French-language historical drama films {{1970s-France-film-stub