The Little Theater of Jean Renoir (1969)

Synopsis: THE LITTLE THEATER OF JEAN RENOIR, a trio of sketches, along with an interlude of singing by Jeanne Moreau, marked Renoir's last appearance behind the camera: in this case, a television camera. In... THE LITTLE THEATER OF JEAN RENOIR, a trio of sketches, along with an interlude of singing by Jeanne Moreau, marked Renoir's last appearance behind the camera: in this case, a television camera. In the first sketch, THE LAST CHRISTMAS EVE, an aged beggar (Nino Formicola) is paid by a group of revellers to watch them eat dinner through a window. He's so effective at the task that they're unable to eat, and the restaurant must give him their food to get him to leave. He brings the food to another beggar, an old woman friend (Milly), and together they remember "the good old days." The second sketch, THE ELECTRIC FLOOR POLISHER, a farcical comment on gadgetry fetishism, concerns a housewife, Emilie (Marguerite Cassan), who is obssessed with shining floors. When her husband (Pierre Olaf) gets a promotion, she demands an electric floor waxer, and he complies, with unfortunate results. In the third vignette, THE VIRTUE OF TOLERANCE, an affluent landowner, Duvallier (Fernand Sardou), is married to a beautiful younger woman, Isabelle (Francoise Arnoul), who takes up with a man closer to her own age. Renoir bids the audience farewell with a reprise of his favorite themes of tolerance and compassion. [More]

Starring: Francoise Arnoul, Jean Carmet, Jeanne Moreau, Fernand Sardou

Starring: Francoise Arnoul, Jean Carmet, Jeanne Moreau, Fernand Sardou

Director: Jean Renoir

Director: Jean Renoir

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