Le Bal du Comte d'Orgel (film)
Encyclopedia
The Ball of Count Orgel is a French
film from 1970. It was one of the last films from director Yves Allégret
, whose brother Marc Allégret
was the producer for this film. It was screened at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival
, but wasn't entered into the main competition.
's the book of the same name
, posthumously published in 1924, the film concerns a ball
hosted by the Comte d'Orgel (Count of Orgel). Set in 1920, the Comte hosts a soirée and dance for the upper echelons of society
in Paris. 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 into her marriage.
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
film from 1970. It was one of the last films from director Yves Allégret
Yves Allégret
Yves Allégret was a French film director in the film noir genre.He is noted as having been the husband of actress Simone Signoret between the years 1944–1949.-Selected filmography:...
, whose brother Marc Allégret
Marc Allégret
Marc Allégret was a French screenwriter and film director.Born in Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland, he was the elder brother of Yves Allégret. Marc was educated to be a lawyer. Allégret became André Gide's lover when he was fifteen and Gide was forty-seven...
was the producer for this film. It was screened at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival
1970 Cannes Film Festival
The 1970 Cannes Film Festival was the 23rd competition. This year, Robert Favre LeBret, the founder of the festival, decided not to include any films from Russia and Japan...
, but wasn't entered into the main competition.
Plot
Based on Raymond RadiguetRaymond Radiguet
Raymond Radiguet was a French author whose two novels were noted for their explicit themes and writing style and tone.-Early life:...
's the book of the same name
Le bal du Comte d'Orgel
Le Bal du comte d'Orgel is the second and last novel by Parisian literary prodigy Raymond Radiguet . Published in 1924 and centering on adultery, it proved controversial, as did his first novel, Le Diable au corps, published in 1923. Le Bal du comte d'Orgel was adapted into a 1970 film.- External...
, posthumously published in 1924, the film concerns a ball
Ball (dance)
A ball is a formal dance. The word 'ball' is derived from the Latin word "ballare", meaning 'to dance'; the term also derived into "bailar", which is the Spanish and Portuguese word for dance . In Catalan it is the same word, 'ball', for the dance event.Attendees wear evening attire, which is...
hosted by the Comte d'Orgel (Count of Orgel). Set in 1920, the Comte hosts a soirée and dance for the upper echelons of society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
in Paris. 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 (emotion)
Passion is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something....
on stage during a performance of The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
with François. Mahé continues to dream about him, however she is confined into her marriage.
Cast
- Jean-Claude BrialyJean-Claude BrialyJean-Claude Brialy – died 30 May 2007, Monthyon, Seine-et-Marne, France was a French actor, director, and socialite.-Biography:...
: Le comte Anne d'Orgel (Count Anne of Orgel) - Sylvie Fennec : La comtesse Mahé d'Orgel (Countess Mahé of Orgel)
- Bruno Garcin : François de Seyrieuse
- Micheline PresleMicheline PresleMicheline Presle is a French actress also known in English language films as Micheline Prelle.Born Micheline Nicole Julia Émilienne Chassagne in Paris, she wanted to be an actress from an early age. She took acting classes in her early teens and made her film debut at the age of fifteen in the...
: Madame de Seyrieuse (Mrs. de Seyrieuse) - Gérard Lartigau : Paul Robin
- Sacha PitoëffSacha PitoëffSacha Pitoëff was a French film actor and theater director.Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Pitoëff played his first film role in 1952. Appearing in over 50 movies, he is probably best known for his performance in Alain Resnais' enigmatic Last Year at Marienbad , as a character known simply as "M"...
: Le prince Naoumof (Prince Naoumof) - Marpessa DawnMarpessa DawnMarpessa Dawn , also known as Gypsy Marpessa Dawn Menor was an American-born French actress, singer, and dancer....
: Marie - Claude GensacClaude GensacClaude Gensac is a French actress in Acy-en-Multien, region of Picardy.Between 1952 and 2003 she played in 42 films.- Filmography :* La Vie d'un honnête homme * Le Journal d'une femme en blanc * Les grandes vacances...
: Mademoiselle d'Orgel (Orgel's daughter) - Ginette LeclercGinette LeclercGinette Leclerc 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 Geneviève Lucie Menut in Paris, France and died in Paris...
: Hortense d'Austerlitz (Hortense of AusterlitzAusterlitz- People :* Austerlitz * Fred Astaire, born Frederick Austerlitz* Robert Austerlitz , linguist, specialist in the Proto-Finno-Ugric language- Places :...
) - Aly Raffy : Mirza
- Marcel Charvey : L'ambassadeur (The AmbassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
) - Béatrice Chatelier : Amina
- Max Montavon : Un invité (A guest)
- Wendy Nicholls : Hester