Both an homage and a rebuttal to the saccharine tendencies of American musicals, the story of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is told entirely in song, with characters singing every line of their dialogue. The effect is irrepressibly poetic as teenage Genevieve (Catherine Deneuve) and mechanic Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) poignantly sing their affection, even as Genevieve's disapproving mother and Guy's military obligations conspire to part them.
Though it was shot on actual locations in the French port town of Cherbourg, the film nevertheless mimics the studio-bound artifice and stylization of the classical Hollywood musicals that inspired Demy. Bright, cheery colors predominate (the citizens of Cherbourg allowed Demy to paint their homes), which aptly reflect composer Michel Legrand's lyrical melodies.
While Hollywood musicals tended to emphasize rousing song and dance numbers and a frenzied energy, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg was Demy's decidedly New Wave, analytical response to the form. Restrained and wistful, Demy embraces the more complicated emotions and tribulations running beneath such effusive romantic stories.
Demy's imaginative approach is evident from one of the film's first images, an overhead view of passersby on Cherbourg's busy streets shot from the rainfall's vantage, a dizzying perspective that sums up the innovative, unusual ambiance of this Grand Prize winner at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival.
Director: Jacques Demy
Producer: Mag Bodard
Screenplay: Jacques Demy
Cinematography: Jean Rabier
Editing: Anne-Marie Cotret, Monique Teisseire
Music: Michel Legrand
Principal Cast: Catherine Deneuve (Genevieve Emery), Nino Castelnuovo (Guy), Anne Vernon (Mme. Emery), Ellen Farner (Madeleine).
In French with English subtitles
C-92m. Letterboxed.
by Felicia Feaster
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Jacques Demy
Catherine Deneuve
Nino Castelnuovo
Anne Vernon
Ellen Farner
Marc Michel
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Geneviève, a 16-year-old girl whose mother, Madame Emery, operates an umbrella shop in Cherbourg, is in love with Guy, a 21-year-old auto mechanic who lives with his sickly Aunt Elise and young Madeleine, her companion. Guy and Geneviève want to marry, but he is about to begin 2 years of military service; before he departs, Geneviève has sex with him to prove her love. Guy has been away several months, and Geneviève has received only one letter when her mother learns that Geneviève is pregnant. Roland Cassard, a wealthy diamond merchant, proposes to Geneviève, declaring his willingness to raise Guy's child as his own. Geneviève is at first shocked by the idea, but as time passes, she becomes convinced that Guy has forgotten her. Won over by Cassard's tenderness and her mother's arguments, she marries Cassard. Guy returns home, learns of Geneviève's marriage, and disconsolately goes back to his old job. When Aunt Elise dies and Madeleine prepares to leave, Guy realizes that they are in love with each other. They marry and Guy buys a gas station with the money inherited from Aunt Elise; 3 years later, Guy and Madeleine are a happy family with their young son. On Christmas Eve when Guy is alone, Geneviève drives into the gas station. Aside from noting that their daughter strongly resembles Guy, the former lovers have little to say to each other, and they go their separate ways.
Director
Jacques Demy
Cast
Catherine Deneuve
Nino Castelnuovo
Anne Vernon
Ellen Farner
Marc Michel
Mireille Perrey
Jean Champion
Harald Wolff
Dorothée Blank
Crew
Mag Bodard
Carita
Gisèle Chezeau
Anne-marie Cotret
Jacques Demy
Jacques Demy
Jean Didenot
Philippe Dussart
Bernard Evein
Michel Legrand
Jean-paul Lemaître
Annie Maurel
Jacqueline Moreau
Klaus Müller-laue
Claude Pignot
Jean Rabier
Réal
Jean-paul Savignac
Monique Teisseire
Maurice Urbain
Léo Weisse
Pierre Willemin
Videos
Movie Clip
Film Details
Technical Specs
Award Nominations
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Score
Best Song
Articles
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Location scenes filmed in Cherbourg. Opened in Paris in February 1964 as Les parapluies de Cherbourg; released in West Germany in November 1965 as Die Regenschirme von Cherbourg. Original running time: 95 min. One German source lists Ultrascope as wide-screen process.
Miscellaneous Notes
The Country of France
Winner of the Palme d'Or for Best Film and the Catholic FIlm Office Award at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival.
Released in United States Winter December 17, 1964
Re-released in United States April 5, 1996
Expanded re-release in United States April 19, 1996
Expanded re-release in United States May 10, 1996
Expanded re-release in United States May 17, 1996
Expanded re-release in United States June 14, 1996
Re-released in United States February 13, 2004
Re-released in United States April 23, 2004
Re-released in United States on Video May 6, 1997
Released in United States March 1977
Released in United States January 2003
Released in United States 2013
Shown at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Retro) January 9-20, 2003.
2004 re-release marks the film's 40th anniversary and features a new 35-millimeter print. Demy's widow, director Agnès Varda, supervised the film's 1992 restoration, which included the remixing of Legrand's legendary score in stereo.
Michel Legrand dubbed the voices for the characters "Jean" and "The Postman."
Released in United States Winter December 17, 1964
Re-released in United States April 5, 1996 (Film Forum; New York City)
Expanded re-release in United States April 19, 1996
Expanded re-release in United States May 10, 1996
Expanded re-release in United States May 17, 1996
Expanded re-release in United States June 14, 1996
Re-released in United States February 13, 2004 (Film Forum; New York City)
Re-released in United States April 23, 2004 (Nuart; Los Angeles)
Re-released in United States on Video May 6, 1997
Released in United States January 2003 (Shown at Palm Springs International Film Festival (Retro) January 9-20, 2003.)
Released in United States March 1977 (Shown at FILMEX: Los Angeles International Film Exposition (The Mighty Musical Movie Marathon) March 9-27, 1977.)
Ultrascope
Released in United States 2013 (Cinema's Legacy)
