The Golden Coach [Le Carosse d’Or] [La Carrozza d’Oro] ***** (1952, Anna Magnani, Odoardo Spadaro, Nada Fiorelli, Duncan Lamont, Ricardo Rioli) – Classic Movie Review 8986

The 1952 French romantic comedy drama The Golden Coach [Le Carosse d’Or] [La Carrozza d’Oro] is filmed by the great Jean Renoir in rich, effervescent style, with gorgeous, luminous Technicolor photography by his gifted nephew Claude Renoir, fascinating characters, striking performances, award-winning costume design and an insightful theatre backdrop. The main star Anna Magnani is magnificent, as usual.

Jean Renoir’s beguiling film is inspired by Prosper Mérimée’s play Le Carrosse du Saint-Sacrement about an 18th-century actress called Camilla (Anna Magnani) touring Peru with a group of travelling players, who is wooed by a viceroy (Duncan Lamont), a bullfighter (Ricardo Rioli) and a young Spanish nobleman (Odoardo Spadaro). The first suitor offers her a scandalous gift of a golden coach, but Magnani shows the wisdom of Solomon by donating it to the Church for funerals.

Also in the cast are Paul Campbell, William Tubbs, Nada Fiorelli, George Higgins, Ralph Truman, Giselle Mathews, Raf De La Torre, Elena Altieri, Dante and Jean Debucourt.

Claude Renoir did the photography for one of his uncle’s highlight films, Une partie de campagne (1946), and was the camera operator for the masterwork La Grande Illusion (1937), as well as for The River (1951) and Elena and Her Men (1956).

The Golden Coach [Le Carosse d’Or] [La Carrozza d’Oro] is directed by Jean Renoir, runs 103 minutes, is made by Delphinus, Hoche Productions, and Panaria Film, is released by Distribuzione Cinematografica Nazionale (1952) (Italy), Les Films Corona (1953) (France) and I.F.E. Releasing Corporation (1954) (US), is written by Jean Renoir, Jack Kirkland, Renzo Avanzo, Giulio Macchi and Ginette Doynel (story and screenplay), inspired by Prosper Mérimée’s play Le Carrosse du Saint-Sacrement, is shot in Technicolor by Claude Renoir, and is produced by Francesco Alliata (producer), Renzo Avanzo (associate producer), Valentino Brosio (production manager) and Giuseppe Bordogni (production manager), with the musical score selected from the works of Antonio Vivaldi, Production Design by Mario Chiari and Costume Design by Maria De Matteis.

It was shot at Cinecittà Studios, Rome.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8986

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