★ 7 / 10
Though the story is really rather slow to
CinemaSerf
Though the story is really rather slow to get going, I did quite enjoy this seaside comedy romance. It's all about the young "Marius" (Horst Buchholz) who…
Though the story is really rather slow to get going, I did quite enjoy this seaside comedy romance. It's all about the young "Marius" (Horst Buchholz) who can't quite decide between a life at sea or a more pedestrian one at home with his girlfriend "Fanny" (Leslie Caron). His decision making isn't really helped by his dad "Cesar" (Charles Boyer) who wants him to stay at home and take over their little brasserie, nor by the elderly "Panisse" (Maurice Chevalier) who has eyes on his girlfriend. Anyway, with the scene set it now falls to these four to engagingly walk us through a series of admittedly contrived, but still quite entertaining scenarios that are well and truly stolen by the bickering rapport of best pals Boyer and Chevalier who keep threatening to kill each other when they don't get their way. The antics of the youngsters are usually the cause of this, and when she becomes pregnant - well choices have to be made that only serve to further complicate matters as the newly arrived young "Cesario" (Joël Flateau) starts to grow up believing his dad to be, well you can guess... It's a bit on the long side this, but when the writing is at it's best it allows these four characters to deliver quite a characterful drama that raises a smile treading just on the right side of slap-stick and farce. True, Buchholz isn't maybe the best actor, but his boyish Bogarde-esque looks help him to play a good foil to the equally boyish Caron and both of them work well with the two elderly gents who look like the are having quite a bit of fun making this film that swipes at sexism, ageism and stereotypes in quite an amiable fashion. There are also a few fun contributions from her mother (Georgette Anys); Raymond Bussières also adds a light extra light-heartedness as the "Admiral" and by the end, this parody of small-town family life set amongst the fish markets and the sunshine worked well.
Read full review
★ 7 / 10
Josh Logan's Fanny
wes-connors
Like the DVD description claims, "One of the screen's great love stories, set to an unforgettable (Harold Rome) soundtrack in seductive Marseilles, will touch…
Like the DVD description claims, "One of the screen's great love stories, set to an unforgettable (Harold Rome) soundtrack in seductive Marseilles, will touch your heart with its charm, humor and timeless themes of young passion and yearning. Starring Leslie Caron at her most beautiful and French cinema icons Charles Boyer and Maurice Chevalier, this 'Academy Award'-nominated gem of filmmaking directed by Joshua Logan tells the story of a young man (Horst Buchholz) torn between his dream of an adventurous life at sea and staying behind with the girl he loves."
This is a condensed version of the Marcel Pagnol trilogy of French films from the 1930s, namely "Marius" (1931), "Fanny" (1932), and "Cesar" (1936), which Joshua Logan breathed new life into as the Broadway hit "Fanny" (1954) starring Florence Henderson. Mr. Logan dropped the stage musical's sing-a-longs, and brought his "Fanny" to the big screen. Thanks to exquisite location photography by Jack Cardiff, this is an excellent film. The four leads do very well in portraying the range of human interpersonal relations that made the original films so memorable.
It was startling to hear film expert and TCM host Ben Mankiewicz reveal that this version was now "widely considered the best" of several Pagnol adaptations. That is big news in filmdom. I still believe the original 1930s films are far more majestic in scope. However, with this cast and crew, Logan could have attempted a more sweeping saga. Portraying love and loyalty, Ms. Caron is beautiful and excellent throughout. The veterans, Mr. Chevalier and Mr. Boyer, do what good actors do when a rare good role presents itself late in a career; they are a French treat.
Most surprisingly effective is Mr. Buchholz - but after all, France and Germany are close. Buchholz would be considered the film's traditional leading man. Yet, the US "Academy Awards" nominated Boyer in the "Best Actor" category, while the "Golden Globe" nominators considered Chevalier to be the film's dramatic leading man. "Fanny" won a scattering of high critical honors, performing best in the annual "Film Daily" top fives, with high marks for the film (#4 for the year), Logan (#2 director), Caron (#4 "Best Actress"), and Boyer (#4 in the "Supporting Actor" category).
******* Fanny (6/28/61) Joshua Logan ~ Leslie Caron, Horst Buchholz, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer
Read full review
68%
AUDIENCE
· 250 ratings
6.8/10
3K
•••
US remake of multiple French films based on the same play by Marcel Pagnol. "Marius" and "Cesar" are the 1st and 3rd other parts of the trilogy.