French Cancan

1955 1h 42m FR

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 111

ComedyDramaRomanceMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Nineteenth-century Paris comes vibrantly alive in Jean Renoir’s exhilarating tale of the opening of the world-renowned Moulin Rouge. Jean Gabin plays the wily impresario Danglard, who makes the cancan all the rage while juggling the love of two beautiful women—an Egyptian belly-dancer and a naive working girl turned cancan star.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Jean Gabin
Henri Danglard
Françoise Arnoul
Nini
María Félix
Lola
Anna Amendola
Esther Georges
Jean-Roger Caussimon
Baron Walter
Dora Doll
La Génisse
Giani Esposito
Prince Alexandre
Gaston Gabaroche
Oscar

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jean Renoir
Writers: Jean Renoir
Languages: French
Countries: France, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

71 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jean Renoir, shot by Michel Kelber. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Georges Van Parys. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Borys Lewin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Jean Gabin and Françoise Arnoul and María Félix carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0046998 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jean Renoir directs. Michel Kelber behind the camera. Georges Van Parys scores. Borys Lewin cuts. Produced in France, Italy. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

171 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 2 countries: France, Italy.
3Directed by Jean Renoir, shot by Michel Kelber. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Georges Van Parys. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Borys Lewin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jean Gabin and Françoise Arnoul and María Félix carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0046998 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Released under 10 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Michel Kelber
Original score: Georges Van Parys
Editing: Borys Lewin
Production design: Max Douy
Costume design: Rosine Delamare
Makeup / hair: Yvonne Fortuna
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Status: Released
Original language: FR
IMDB: French Cancan (1955)

Also by

Jean Renoir

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2024-08-22
★ 7/10
This is quite an entertaining story about monsieur "Danglard" (Jean Gabin) who runs a chic little Parisian café but hasn't two sous to rub together. He's ambitious though, a bit of a dreamer, an so when out on a jaunt with belly-dancing mistress "Lola" (Maria Félix) to the city's seedy Montmatre district he sees the original cancan in full flow and decides that there's still a place for that dance in late 19th century society. How to raise the cash, though? Who is going to lead the dance? Well that latter question is solved when he meets the feisty "Nini" (Françoise Arnoul). She works in a laundry by day, but is a mean dancer and just the person. The first of his problems is fortuitously solved by the kindly intervention of the wealthy young prince "Alexandre" (Giani Esposito) who is so loved up that he donates the dilapidated old "Moulin Rouge" to help make it all happen. As this sumptuously lively drama continues, a love triangle develops between the two girls and the impresario "Danglard" and there's some professional rivalry smouldering too whilst the increasingly sidelined prince must deal with an unwelcome rejection. With opening night looming, tempers fray and "Nini" becomes jealous - but will she go on stage? This is good fun to watch, a colourfully enjoyable romp through a French society full of lust, longing and a fair amount of absinthe before a denouement that is extended and vibrant. It's actually quite reminiscent of a few of the Hollywood films of the mid 1950s with a solid story, strong cast and some quite witty writing to help it tell a story that taps into history, national pride and, of course, a good old fashioned love story (well, quite a few if them, actually).

Production companies