UnowPriceless
hyped garbage
Beanbioca
As Good As It Gets
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
JLRMovieReviews
Based on Pagnol's "La Trilogie Marseillaise" and Joshua Logan's play, this tells the story of Fanny (Leslie Caron.) She has loved Horst Buchholz ever since she could remember and he her, but the trouble is he never did anything about it, but torture himself over it and over his unhappiness with his lot in life, tending bar in his father's little waterfront cafe. He dreams of sailing on the high seas. But he hasn't the heart or gumption to get up and leave, due mainly for his love for Fanny. His father, Cesar, is played wonderfully by Charles Boyer and an older suitor of Fanny's is Panisee (Maurice Chevalier,) a widower, who is three times her age. The film begins with Fanny teasing Marius (Horst,) letting Panisse flirt with her in the cafe with Marius cleaning all around her. Ultimately, Panisse proposes to her and Marius is on the verge on leaving when they have a final confrontation about their situation, when the ship is in port and about to sail; but this is only after they have finally confessed their love for each other. From there, we are shown the repercussions for their emotional actions. This is a very humorous and charming film, and at the same time, it's one of the most deeply felt movies I have ever seen. I can't tell you when I first saw this or how many times I've seen it. But this simple yet beautiful tale is one of my all-time favorite films - ever! Much love is felt and shared. Much respect for all characters is given. The entire cast is outstanding! The people are real and we are invested in them. their feelings, their mistakes, their humanity. With breathtaking scenery and a beautiful score, this is a must-see Leslie Caron film. This may not be put in the category or conversation as "Gigi' or "An American in Paris," but I don't know why not. Miss this and you have missed a true romantic's film.
funkyfry
Joshua Logan's heavy direction is the main thing holding down this pleasing French-ish romp in Marseilles (I think) with Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, and Charles Boyer. Fanny is a fishmonger's daughter on a giant wharf where Chevalier and Boyer are among the semi-decrepit café denizens who spend all their time playing cards and putting bricks under hats in the middle of the street to see people walk by and kick it. Horst Buscholtz is Marius, the son of Cesar (Boyer), tired of working the bar and ready for a life of adventure at sea but at the same time madly in love with Fanny (Caron).This is a very nice looking movie, gorgeous photography all the time but somehow lacking in contrast. Logan works in only two shades -- bright daylight and darkest night. Likewise his actors are directed to play everything either at the bottom or highest decibels. But the acting is definitely the main thing to watch in the movie, especially Boyer's studied performance of a man who's fundamentally proud and compromised at the same time. Caron gets to play some really adult scenes which is a pleasant change. Chevalier is a lot of fun, really convincing in the character as he always is when playing these sort of genial horn-dogs. But Horst Buscholtz, now he is a piece of work. I don't know if he was uncomfortable with the language or what, but he did not give a very good performance in my opinion, much too earnest so that some of his big moments became laughable. But there is a kind of grounded quality about him that I like.The story is a bunch of claptrap as far as I could tell, creaky even at the time when this movie was made. It's melodrama played for as much as melodrama's worth on its basic level, with the big sacrifice at the end and everything. Since there's no hint of irony about any of the proceedings, this film enters into the strange kind of territory occupied by other films like Charles Vidor's "The Swan" that seem to have been made for the audience of 30 years before. Maybe they were; maybe enough middle-aged or older people still went to the theater in the late 50s/early 60s to make a movie profitable. But I'm not sure if it wasn't just a sort of dying trend that people were trying to keep alive. Still, I like this movie in a lot of ways more than some of the feeble "revolutionary" movies that came out a few years later. I just think if there's a middle ground between classic and modern, this film did not try to find it. It's a pleasing relic, but that's all it's really ever been I think. Still, the charm of these performers finding good chemistry in the characters over-rides the stale treatment and makes it appealingly old-fashioned if you're in the mood for that kind of thing.
purrlgurrl
One of the essential pleasures of the film is its soundtrack of Harold Rome's beautiful melodies from the Broadway show, Fanny. The title theme, the song Fanny, is especially haunting, and played throughout the film.Unfortunately, there is no movie soundtrack CD (Grrrrrrrr!), only a Broadway cast album (yes, a phonograph record) from the 1954 stage production. I keep searching to find the song recorded somewhere, by someone (anyone), but just keep coming up empty. What a genuine pity that this beautiful piece of music seems to have been lost in time and we can only hear it sporadically in this film.Fanny contains my favorite performance my Maurice Chevalier as Panisse, the lovestruck older gentleman who marries the pregnant Fanny (Leslie Caron), whose young lover (Horst Bucholtz) has run off to be with his first true love, the sea. If you've seen The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, you'll know the story (based on the same source material). But, since this is after all a Hollywood production, the ending has an upbeat twist.Romantic love stories such as this were often filmed in epic style back in the day (a style resurrected by James Cameron for "Titanic", complete with theme music that played in your head for weeks). Sadly, it's a genre that's never made a solid comeback . . . though I fervently wish it would. Sigh . . .
ezlidblue-1
I suppose in this day & age the story in "Fanny" will appear dated and not at all relevant but it remains filled with lessons of life. I too saw this as a young girl and it remains one of my all-time favorite movies. My favorite scene is Charles Boyer lighting a match, blowing it out and telling his son, Marius, that a woman's honor is like the match - it can only be used once. Today, when we have such a plethora of unwed mothers and young girls who think nothing of being "Friends With Benefits," this must sound very trite; however, it has a great deal of relevance as to self-respect and Fanny understands that.The marriage of Panisse and Fanny, while one of mutual benefit - she saves her family from the shame of having an unwed mother in their midst, Panisse gains a son to inherit his money and business - is always one of respect and a certain kind of love almost unheard of today. Quelle dommage! You cannot find better acting than that of Boyer and Chevalier in this film. Horst Bucholtz is gorgeous and Caron is the perfect young girl in love with him. The cinematography is incredibly beautiful.Perhaps, it is my longing for the days Fanny lives in but the world was a much better place when words like 'honor' meant something! If you have sons, they should see this movie. If you have daughters, MAKE them see this film!
