The Earrings of Madame de … (1953)

The Earrings of Madame de …
Directed by Max Ophüls
Written by Marcel Archard, Max Ophüls, and Annette Wademant from a novel by Louise de Vilmorin
1953/France/Italy
Franco London Films/Indus Films/Rizzoli Film
Repeat viewing/Netflix Rental
#268 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Monsieur Rémy: I thought I was doing both of you a favor.

Général André de…: I don’t follow, Monsieur Remy. I sometimes do favors for others but I avoid letting others do them for me.

Monsieur Rémy: A good policy.[/box]

The first time I saw this I was mesmerized by Ophul’s fabulous camera work.  This time I was moved by the story and the acting.  Either way, this film is a marvel.

General Andre de … (Charles Boyer) and his wife Louise (Danielle Darrieux) are sophisticates and members of the Paris elite.  As the story begins, Louise is trying to decide which of her jewels she should sell to pay off some debts she has kept a secret from her husband.  She decides her diamond earrings, a wedding present from André, are the easiest of her possessions to part with.  She covers her indiscretion by saying she can’t find the jewels, which are presumably lost or stolen.

Although she swore the jeweler to secrecy, he proceeds to inform André, a valued client. André buys them back, asks that the jeweler mention this to no one, and gives the earrings to his mistress who is departing for Constantinople at the conclusion of their affair. The mistress loses all her money at the casino and pawns the earrings.  Baron Fabrizio Donati (Vittorio de Sica), an Italian diplomat, sees the earrings in a jeweler’s window and buys them without a particular recipient in mind.

Donati is assigned to the Italian Embassy where he socializes with the General and his wife at many official functions.  While the General is away on maneuvers, Donati and Louise see more and more of each other.  Finally, he gives her the earrings.  The earrings start on another, more tragic, ownership cycle until they reach their destiny.

This film is beautiful in every way.  There is an amazing sequence that encapsulates the relationship between Louise and Donati through their dancing at various parties.  The camera dances right along with them.  I had not remembered how sad the story was.  By the end I felt so sorry for all the characters.  I don’t think Boyer was ever better.  He captures both the pride and the hurt of the General to perfection.  Highly recommended.

The Earrings of Madame de … was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White.

Can’t find a good clip so here is this analysis of the opening tracking shots