La Cousine Bette
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| Cousin Bette | |
 Cover of 1965 Penguin Classics edition of La Cousine Bette (Cousin Bette) |
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| Author | Honoré de Balzac |
|---|---|
| Original title | La Cousine Bette |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Publication date | 1846 |
La Cousine Bette (English: Cousin Bette) is an 1846 novel by Honoré de Balzac. It has been adapted for film or television at least four times, including a 1998 movie starring Jessica Lange.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
It is the story of a poor cousin who seeks, with the help of a prostitute, to ruin the lives of her wealthy relations.
[edit] Major characters
- Mlle Elisabeth 'Bette' Fischer
- Valérie Marneffe
- Jenny Cadine
- Cesar Crevel
- Baron Hector Hulot
- Mme la baronne Adeline Hulot
- Count Wenceslas Steinbach
- Hortense Hulot
- Victorin Hulot
- Stidmann
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
There have been at least 4 adaptations for film and television:
- 1927 French film
- 1964 French television production adapted by Jean-Louis Bory starring Alice Sapritch as Bette and Claudine Coster as Valerie
- 1971 BBC mini-series adapted by Ray Lawler starring Margaret Tyzack as Bette and Helen Mirren as Valerie; also broadcast on PBS television in 1972. An extremely faithful adaptation of the book.
- 1998 film adapted by Lynn Siefert starring Jessica Lange as Bette and Elisabeth Shue as Jenny Cadine. This film alters much of the plotline, even to the point of changing the ending. It expands Jenny's role and completely omits the character of Valerie.
[edit] DVD Releases
The 1971 version of Cousin Bette with Margaret Tyzack and Helen Mirren is available on DVD in the UK and the United States (in a two-disc set).
The 1998 film with Jessica Lange and Elisabeth Shue is also available on DVD.
[edit] Trivia
The American actress Bette Davis had adopted this spelling of her name, instead of her original "Betty", under the influence of Balzac's book.
[edit] External links
- Plot Summary
- Cousin Betty, available at Project Gutenberg. (English)
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