Le diable au corps [Devil in the Flesh] **** (1947, Micheline Presle, Gérard Philipe, Denise Grey, Jean Lara) – Classic Movie Review 11,059

Director Claude Autant-Lara’s 1947 black and white film Le Diable au Corps [Devil in the Flesh] is a beautifully lush, erotic French World War One romantic drama, based on Raymond Raguet’s novel of adulterous passion, with Gérard Philipe as the young student François Jaubert for whom older married Marthe Grangier (Micheline Presle) falls, while her soldier fiancé Jacques (Jean Lara) is away at the Front. François and Marthe separate and she marries Jacques, but the duo meet again and begin an extramarital affair.

There is beautiful playing from both stars, and the wildly handsome young Philipe’s stirring portrait of desperate passion made him a star in his sixth film and it also made Presle’s name.

A big hit in its day, and the most discussed French film of its year, Le Diable au Corps won many awards (including the top prizes at the Brussels film festival) but it was also attacked as an assault on family life.

It established the reputation of Autant-Lara, whose visual style is still admirable, and so are the film’s implied anti- war attitudes. It runs 110 minutes but was originally 125 minutes before censorship cuts.

Also in the cast are Jean Debucourt, Denise Grey, Pierre Palau, Jacques Tati, Charles Vissière, Germaine Ledoyen, Jeanne Pérez, Jean Lara [Jean Varas], Michel François, Richard Francoeur, Max Maxudian and Michel François.

Le Diable au Corps [Devil in the Flesh] is directed by Claude Autant-Lara, runs 110 minutes, is made by Transcontinental Films, is written by Claude Autant-Lara, Jean Aurenche and Pierre Bost, is shot by Michel Kelber, is scored by René Cloërec and designed by Max Douy.

Micheline Presle was born on August 22, 1922.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,059

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