The Curtain Rises (1938)
1938, France, Paris, at the Superior Conservatory of Dramatic Art ("Conservatoire Supérieur d'Art Dramatique"). The first-year entrance exams are in full swing. Many applicants, few accepted. Isabelle (Janine Darcey) is one of the few chosen. She joins former students from the second and third years, including François (Claude Dauphin) and Cécilia (Odette Joyeux). They attend the drama class run by Professor Lambertin (Louis Jouvet). The young people, passionate and eager to become comedians, clash in tumultuous love affairs, because by dint of acting, they imagine that life is a farce. François, for example, is in love with Isabelle, who also loves him, but is pursued by Cecilia, his former mistress... "Put art in your life and life in your art!"
- Released
- 1938-10-06
- Genres
- Comedy, Drama
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Status
- Released
- Directed / written by
- Marc Allégret
- TMDB rating
- 7.8/10 from 23 votes
Cast
- Louis Jouvet as M. Lambertin, professeur au Conservatoire
- Claude Dauphin as François Polti
- Janine Darcey as Isabelle Didier
- Odette Joyeux as Cécilia Prieur
- Bernard Blier as Pescani, un élève du Conservatoire
- Robert Pizani as Jérôme
- Madeleine Lambert as Mme Élisabeth Prieur, mère de Cécilia
- Roger Blin as Dominique, le gardien du château de la famille de Cécilia
- Mady Made as Denise
- Babita Soren as Norah Storm
- André Brunot as Fernand Grenaison, l'oncle d'Isabelle
- Madeleine Geoffroy as Mme Fernande Grenaison, épouse de Fernand