The Girl from Maxim's (1950 film)

The Girl from Maxim's is a 1950 French-Italian comedy film directed by Marcel Pagnol. It is based on the 1899 play La Dame de chez Maxim by Georges Feydeau. The film stars Giselle Pascal, Saturnin Fabre, and Andrex.

The story revolves around Doctor Petiton, a respectable Parisian physician who, during a wild night out celebrating a colleague's wedding, unwittingly brings home a vivacious and slightly intoxicated Montmartre dancer, known as "La Belle Aurore," from the famous cabaret Maxim's. Mistaking her for his colleague's wife, he introduces her to his unsuspecting wife and conservative family as his new "god-daughter" from the provinces.

Chaos ensues as La Belle Aurore's flamboyant personality and unconventional behavior clash hilariously with the rigid social norms of the Petiton household and Parisian high society. The film follows the doctor's increasingly desperate attempts to maintain his reputation and prevent his secret from being revealed, leading to a series of comical misunderstandings and farcical situations. The film's humor derives largely from the contrast between the sophisticated, upper-class world and the free-spirited, bohemian atmosphere represented by La Belle Aurore. It explores themes of social hypocrisy, mistaken identity, and the disruptive force of unconventionality.

The 1950 film is one of several adaptations of Feydeau's play, which has been a popular source material for stage and screen comedies.