Benjamin (film)
| Benjamin | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Michel Deville |
| Produced by | Mag Bodard |
| Written by |
Michel Deville Nina Companéez |
| Starring |
Michèle Morgan Catherine Deneuve Pierre Clémenti Michel Piccoli |
| Music by | Jean Wiener |
| Cinematography | Ghislain Cloquet |
| Edited by | Nina Companeez |
Production company |
Marianne Productions Parc Film |
| Distributed by | Les Films Paramount |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Box office | 2,542,714 admissions (France)[1] |
Benjamin (original title: Benjamin ou les Mémoires d'un puceau; U.S title: The Diary of an Innocent Boy) is a 1968 French comedy film directed by Michel Deville who co-wrote the screenplay with Nina Companéez.
"Benjamin was a role that I really liked," said Deneuve later. "It was a comedy, but in the spirit and tone particular."[2]
Plot
In the eighteenth century, seventeen-year-old virgin Benjamin comes with his old servant to stay at the estate of his aunt, Countess de Valandry, who is having an affair with Count Philippe. Benjamin is pursued by various woman, including the beautiful Anne, who really loves Philippe.
Cast
- Michèle Morgan as Countess de Valandry.
- Catherine Deneuve as Anne
- Pierre Clémenti as Benjamin
- Michel Piccoli as Count Philippe
- Francine Bergé as Marion
- Anna Gaël as Célestine
- Catherine Rouvel as Victorine
- Jacques Dufilho as Camille
- Odile Versois as Married woman
Production
Filming began in June 1967.[3] The day before, Catherine Deneuve's sister and fellow actress Françoise Dorléac had died in a car accident.
"It is a painful time in my life," she later recalled. "I was in a cloud. I shot like a misty PLC. Fortunately, grief did not score the film."[2]
Reception
Box Office
The film was the eleventh most popular movie at the French box office in 1968.[4]
Critical response
The critic for The Guardian claimed that "the dialogue is stylish without being witty and it is continuously and tiresomely arch."[5] The Los Angeles Times said the film was "as superlatively acted as it is photographed and scored".[6] The Washington Post said the film "has little to be said for it except is evidently authentic chateux".[7]
Pauline Kael wrote that Pierre Clementi "indicates adolescent innocence by being loose-limbed and girlish. It is essential for the boy to suggest the kind of man he will become once he has learned what everyone is so eager to teach him, but Clémenti looks as though he would become a lesbian."[8]
References
- ↑ Box office information for Catherine Deneuve films at Box Office Story
- 1 2 Interview with Catherine Denuenve, Catherine Deneuve Tribute site accessed 15 Sept 2014
- ↑ Eva Renzie in 'Pink Jungle' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 28 June 1967: e11.
- ↑ "French Box Office 1968". Box Office Story.
- ↑ Death by adventure Lennon, Peter. The Guardian (1959-2003) [London (UK)] 22 Jan 1968: 6.
- ↑ 'Benjamin' Playing at Plaza Theater Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 11 Apr 1968: 31.
- ↑ 'Kinetic Art' Diverting Bill By Richard L. Coe. The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973) [Washington, D.C] 06 Apr 1968: C6.
- ↑ Pierre Clementi obituary, The Guardian January 2000 accessed 13 September 2014
External links
- Benjamin at the TCM Movie Database
- Benjamin on IMDb
- Benjamin at AllMovie
- Review of film at New York Times
- Review of film by Roger Ebert