Catherine Deneuve

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 7:35pm

I watched three very early Deneuve films in succession these past couple of days and I was reminded what a versatile actress she was even at such a young age. She was in her early 20's when she filmed REPULSION, BELLE DE JOUR and LES DESMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT and I must say it was like seeing three totally different women. I would go so far as to consider her the french equivalent of Meryl Streep. She's just marvelous.

[Chance]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 7:38pm

She's FANTASTIC in 8 Femmes

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 7:44pm

I haven't seen 8 FEMMES since it was released back in 2002, was it? I should give it another look to refresh my memory. I'm also going to be looking for TRISTANA and of course LES PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG.

I must confess I never saw DANCER IN THE DARK, how was she in that?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 7:58pm

I LOVE Catherine Deneuve too! Belle de Jour is a wonderful movie, and her performance is perfection, especially considering her age.

The first movie I ever saw her in was Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, and I was so entranced by that movie. It made me a complete fan of hers.

8 Femmes is pretty good and has a huge line up of French stars. Dancer in the Dark is a wonderful movie, but not because of Deneuve. She has a small part. Believe it or not, watch the movie for the story, music and most of all Bjork.

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:05pm

Thanks Whizzer, I'm going to NetFlix DANCER IN THE DARK. I love Bjork as well so I will definitely enjoy it regardless of how big or small Deneuve's part is.

I was also entranced by LES PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG. I have been listening to the soundtrack constantly along with the one for LES DESMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT. Yes, Deneuve was dubbed in both films but she was spot on in both her lip synching of the material and conveying her characters strengths and weaknesses, especially in CHERBOURG. That was one movie that almost had in my in tears and I don't cry easily.

[Chance]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:24pm

Yeah when i went to see 8 Femmes back in 2002 I knew nothing about it, it was part of a LGBT film festival in Portland and I actually only picked it cause the movie i wanted to see ended up getting cancelled. I was shocked when it ended up being a musical, but absolutely fell in love with it. Everyone int he cast was amazing, but Catherine definitely gave a great performance as the Matriach of the family.

[bschneid76]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:39pm

A brilliant actress! Belle De Jour is one of her best works. They are showing Mississippi Mermaid at Film Forum this month that I really want to see. There is also a new collection of 5 of her films on DVD. Truly a marvel!

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:47pm

I completely overlooked MISSISSIPPI MERMAID! Belmondo, Deneuve *and* Truffaut! What a combo. Deneuve was deliciously wicked in it!

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:59pm

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xr7gy_nip-tuck-french-catherine-deneuve-s_shortfilms

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 9:06pm

Mississippi Mermaid was Truffaut's worst movie. Plodding and dull.

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 9:14pm

Thanks for that great Nip/Tuck clip Biff AKA Levi! She is still a STUNNER!

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 9:18pm

Here is a link to a fascinating interview with Ms. Deneuve from May of last year.
Catherine Deneuve Interview - NPR

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 9:52am

I love her and her sister in Rochefort! I saw that movie last year for the first time and started a thread about it. It's like a big bowl of sherbet in the summertime. And that '60s jazz is the best.








"Dancer In the Dark" is an emotionally brutal film, Brad. I don't even know if I could ever sit through it again. Bjork was fantastic in it, and so was Catherine, even in a small role. But BRACE yourself for a harrowing experience. It's unrelentlessly disturbing.

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 12:51pm

"a big bowl of sherbert in the summertime..."

That's a perfect description for the film best12bars. It is such a tribute to the old school MGM musicals! It's sublime! I loved that Gene Kelly, George Chakiris (god he was gorgeous) and Grover Dale were in it as well. I fell in love with it completely, and that Legrand score! I can't get enough of it that I have three different versions of the soundtrack including one sung in English. Jackie Ward and Sue Allen sing the parts of Delphine and Solange.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 1:07pm

My pick would be Indochine.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 2:52pm

My favorite of her performances is in THE LAST METRO, a movie that really seems to have fallen off the map. She plays Marion Steiner, an actress having to manage a theatre in German-occupied Paris. She's flawless, and so is the film, for my money Truffaut's best after THE 400 BLOWS.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:17pm

Roscoe, I loved LAST METRO, too!

A funny Deneuve story, told me by the actress Tsai Chin:

Tsai, who was quite the "it" girl in London back in the 60s, gave a party at her flat one night. It was a big success, but finally everyone was gone, and Tsai went to sleep. About 8:00 a.m., her bell rang. Tsai stumbled to the door and pushed the intercom buzzer.

"Yes?"

"Tsai?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"Catherine Deneuve. I hear you're having a party."

Pause. "Come on up."

Deneuve walked in with 5 or 6 friends. So, we asked Tsai, what did you do?

She said "I made eggs."

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:19pm

The Hunger

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:21pm

Love THE HUNGER!

It's such a great 80s-chic time capsule.
Updated On: 8/18/08 at 03:21 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:24pm

Reg, that's a cool story. What else could you do but make eggs?

What ever happened to THE LAST METRO? It has just vanished, it isn't even on DVD any more, is it?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:29pm

I don't know. I had the VHS; never even got it on DVD.

Frankly, I'd sort of forgotten it till you mentioned it. Sorry to hear it's unobtainable. I went to see it three times when it came out. She was absolutely riveting.
Updated On: 8/18/08 at 03:29 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/18/08 at 3:46pm

it's gone

Updated On: 8/18/08 at 03:46 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 10:57am

Don't get me started on how much I love the Deneuve. I think my favorite film of all time of hers is Ma Saison Preferee (My Favorite Season). She and Daniel Autieul star as brother and sister and it is such a authentic performance of hers. It is just so stunning and real. If you are a Catherine fan you must check it out. I have to say I did not like her remake of Dangerous Liaisons with Rupert Everett. It was not well done at all.

[BradMajors]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 11:05am

I'll be sure to pick up Ma Saison Preferee, thanks for suggesting it Beetyboy72.

I love THE LAST METRO as well. I'm glad I picked that one up before it went out of print.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 8/19/08 at 4:48pm

In the 70s, my gentleman friend (he wasn't a "boy", he was in his 30s and my first lover) thought I looked like her. In the 70s. I would say love is blind except he definately did not love me and reminded me of that regularly.

I also loved her perfume, even if it was labeled "soapy" by the critics. I always got lots of compliments wearing it. Too bad it was discontinued, you can get a replica at Long Lost Perfumes.