Definition
Lucrèce is a 1943 French drama film directed by Léo Joannon. The work is notable for starring the celebrated actress Edwige Feuillère and for its depiction of a theatrical star’s encounter with an infatuated youth.
Overview
The film was released in France on 15 December 1943. It runs for 93 minutes and was produced by Majestic Films, with distribution handled by Les Films Vog. The screenplay was co‑written by Georges Neveux, Claude‑André Puget, and Solange Térac. Cinematography was provided by Christian Matras, editing by Jeannette Berton, and the musical score composed by Roland Manuel. The production design, including the film’s sets, was overseen by art director Roland Quignon.
Etymology/Origin
The title Lucrèce is the French form of the name “Lucretia,” a classical Roman figure whose story has been retold in literature and art. In the context of the film, the name refers to the fictional actress Lucrèce, portrayed by Edwige Feuillère. No further historical or linguistic significance beyond this naming choice is documented for the film.
Characteristics
- Genre: Drama
- Director: Léo Joannon, a prolific French filmmaker active from the 1930s to the 1960s.
- Principal Cast:
- Edwige Feuillère as Lucrèce, a celebrated stage actress.
- Pierre Jourdan as Rudi Daré, Lucrèce’s partner and director.
- Jean Tissier as Barbanzanges.
- Supporting actors include Jean Mercanton, Marcelle Monthil, Louis Seigner, and Daniel Gélin among others.
- Plot Synopsis: The narrative follows Lucrèce, a renowned actress who becomes the object of obsessive admiration from François, a 19‑year‑old student at the Barbazanges institution. After François publicly declares Lucrèce to be his mother, she takes pity on him, offering guidance and attempting to alleviate his emotional turmoil. The film explores themes of fame, unrequited affection, and the interplay between public persona and private compassion.
- Production Details:
- Cinematography: Christian Matras, noted for his work in French poetic realism.
- Editing: Jeannette Berton.
- Music: Roland Manuel.
- Art Direction: Roland Quignon, responsible for set design that reflects wartime French theatrical environments.
- Reception: Contemporary reviews are limited due to the wartime release; later scholarship references the film in discussions of French cinema’s treatment of gender and celebrity during the early 1940s.
Related Topics
- French cinema of the 1940s, particularly wartime productions.
- Léo Joannon’s filmography (e.g., The Voice of Happiness (1931), The White Truck (1943)).
- Edwige Feuillère’s career as a leading lady of French stage and screen.
- Depictions of theatrical life in film.
- The cultural legacy of the name “Lucretia/Lucrèce” in European arts.