Manèges **** (1950, Bernard Blier, Simone Signoret, Jacques Baumer) – Classic Movie Review 9458

Director Yves Allégret’s 1950 French film Manèges [The Wanton] [The Cheat] is an engaging noir-style melodrama thanks to the film’s clever structure, controlled handling by Allégret, and the charismatic star performances of Simone Signoret and Bernard Blier.

A series of complex flashbacks gradually reveals the truth about the ambitious, coldblooded Dora (Signoret) who marries Robert (Blier), the ageing boss of a riding school, for his money, only to learn that greed does not pay.

Jane Marken, as the woman’s grasping mother, and Franck Villard, as her lover François, score strongly too. The black and white photography by Jean Bourgoin is another of the film’s strengths.

Also in the cast are Jacques Baumer, Jean Ozenne, Laura Diana, Mona Doll, Fernand Rauzéna and Gabriel Gobin.

Manèges [The Wanton] [The Cheat] is directed by Yves Allégret, runs 92 minutes, is made by Les Films Modernes and DisCina, is released by DisCina (1950) (France), is written by Jacques Sigurd, is shot in black and white by Jean Bourgoin, is produced by Emil Natan, is scored by Paul Misraki and is designed by Alexandre Trauner.

Director Allégret and star Signoret were married at the time, from 27 July 1948 to 23 February 1951, divorced, with one child.

Signoret recalled that for some years after the film’s release, members the public told her how they despised her as if she was the shameless unfaithful wife of the film.

Manèges translates as rides, no doubt the riding school in the film.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9458

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