In the 1950s, French films were considered the ne plus ultra in naughtiness by certain impressionable filmgoers. It was to these movie fans that the American distributor of Jean Renoir's Elena et les Hommes (Elena and the Men) catered when it provocatively retitled the picture Paris Does Strange Things As further grist to the mill for American publicity hacks, the film starred Ingrid Bergman, who had recently returned to Hollywood after her career was nearly ruined by a marital scandal. Actually
there was nothing overtly erotic about Paris Does Strange Things. The film was a sweet romantic comedy wherein Bergman plays a poverty-stricken Polish princess, who is wooed by eligible admirers Mel Ferrer and Jean Marais. Will she marry for love, or merely to restore her wealth? The suspense is bearable. Inexpertly cut to 86 minutes for its American showings, Paris Does Strange Things was restored to its full 98 minutes in 1986 and its title reverted to Elena et les Hommes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
What's interesting is the way that Renoir preserves a strong erotic and romantic thread (the love between Bergman and Ferrer) all the way through the movie's farcical elements.
This is a fantastic film. It is filled with patented Renoirisms, from the utter sincerity of the emotions to the exceptional impressionistic composition.
Fantasy, yes, but hardly escapist in the astonishing pertinence with which it reduces the hawkish military and political ambitions of the day to derisory farce while demonstrating the infallibility with which love goes on making the world go round.
Silly concoction is a minor work for all involved. Ingrid, in her last foreign film before her exile from Hollywood due to the Rossolini scandal ended and triumphant return in Anastastia, is charming and her dresses are incredibly beautiful. But the settings have a sense of falseness to them, even wealthy people's
homes look like someone lives there, these are obvious sets. Even the outdoor scenes have a claustrophoic feeling of being stagebound. Mildly amusing but almost completely forgettable.
April 29, 2011
jay nixon
Super Reviewer
A Full 5 Stars, I seldom do that. This is Movie from the Criterion Collection, like most movies from this collection its outstanding. Its in French with English Subtitles. Its easy to see that Ingrid Bergman was both beautiful and talented. We really don't see that in Female actors today, They are hot for a while but
there flame burns out quickly. Back in the Day and Actor or Actress was just that.
December 14, 2007
Bruce Bruce
Super Reviewer
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