Casque d'or
Encyclopedia
Casque d'or is a 1952 French film directed by Jacques Becker
. It is a Belle Époque
tragedy, the story of an ill-fated love affair between characters played by Simone Signoret
and Serge Reggiani
.
), a woman of considerable beauty, is distressed at her treatment by Roland, a criminal who is a part of a local syndicate. When Marie is introduced to the handsome stranger Georges, she falls in love with him instantly, much to the chagrin of Roland. When Roland's jealousy builds after a number of meetings between Marie and Georges, Roland decides to confront Georges behind a club where a number members of his syndicate watch. After Georges gains control of a knife that had been thrown between them to initiate the fight, George manages to stab Roland in the back after a brief scuffle, killing him almost instantly. When the police arrive at the scene everyone flees, including Marie, who seeks refuge away from the syndicate at a nearby village.
After Georges inquires into Marie's whereabouts, he finds her at this village and the two live an idyllic life until he is brought word that a friend, Raymond, had been arrested for the murder of Roland after Félix, another member of the syndicate, placed blame on him in an attempt to bring Georges out of hiding and seek revenge. Not realizing this plan, Georges confesses to the police that he is the real killer. When Georges realizes Félix's plan, he breaks free after being transported between jails and immediately seeks out Félix. When he finds him in the presence of the police, he kills him anyway, condemning himself in the process. With the two murders, Georges is sentenced to die by the guillotine, while a broken Marie is forced to watch in horror as he is executed.
Jacques Becker
Jacques Becker was a French screenwriter and film director.Becker was born in Paris, in an upper class background. During the 1930s he worked as an assistant to director Jean Renoir during his peak period, which produced such cinematic masterpieces as Grand Illusion and The Rules of the Game...
. It is a Belle Époque
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
tragedy, the story of an ill-fated love affair between characters played by Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret was a French cinema actress often hailed as one of France's greatest movie stars. She became the first French person to win an Academy Award, for her role in Room at the Top...
and Serge Reggiani
Serge Reggiani
Serge Reggiani was an Italian-born French singer and actor. He was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy and moved to France with his parents at the age of eight...
.
Plot
Marie (Simone SignoretSimone Signoret
Simone Signoret was a French cinema actress often hailed as one of France's greatest movie stars. She became the first French person to win an Academy Award, for her role in Room at the Top...
), a woman of considerable beauty, is distressed at her treatment by Roland, a criminal who is a part of a local syndicate. When Marie is introduced to the handsome stranger Georges, she falls in love with him instantly, much to the chagrin of Roland. When Roland's jealousy builds after a number of meetings between Marie and Georges, Roland decides to confront Georges behind a club where a number members of his syndicate watch. After Georges gains control of a knife that had been thrown between them to initiate the fight, George manages to stab Roland in the back after a brief scuffle, killing him almost instantly. When the police arrive at the scene everyone flees, including Marie, who seeks refuge away from the syndicate at a nearby village.
After Georges inquires into Marie's whereabouts, he finds her at this village and the two live an idyllic life until he is brought word that a friend, Raymond, had been arrested for the murder of Roland after Félix, another member of the syndicate, placed blame on him in an attempt to bring Georges out of hiding and seek revenge. Not realizing this plan, Georges confesses to the police that he is the real killer. When Georges realizes Félix's plan, he breaks free after being transported between jails and immediately seeks out Félix. When he finds him in the presence of the police, he kills him anyway, condemning himself in the process. With the two murders, Georges is sentenced to die by the guillotine, while a broken Marie is forced to watch in horror as he is executed.
Starring
- Simone SignoretSimone SignoretSimone Signoret was a French cinema actress often hailed as one of France's greatest movie stars. She became the first French person to win an Academy Award, for her role in Room at the Top...
as Marie 'Casque d'Or' - Serge ReggianiSerge ReggianiSerge Reggiani was an Italian-born French singer and actor. He was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy and moved to France with his parents at the age of eight...
as Georges Manda - Claude DauphinClaude Dauphin (actor)Claude Dauphin was a French actor. He appeared in over 130 films between 1930 and 1978.He was born in Corbeil-Essonnes, Essonne. His father was Maurice Étienne Legrand, a poet who wrote as Franc-Nohain, and who was the librettist for Maurice Ravel's opera L'heure espagnole.Dauphin married...
as Félix Leca - Raymond Bussières as Raymond
- Odette Barencey as La mère d'Eugène
- Loleh Bellon as Léonie Danard
- William Sabatier as Roland