The Mississippi Siren : Jean-Paul Belmondo madly in love with Catherine Deneuve
Jean-Paul Belmondo is best remembered for his comedic or adventurer roles in famous action films. But we must not forget that the actor showed all his talent also in the so-called author’s works, under the direction of New Wave filmmakers. Jean-Luc Godard thus made it film Breathless (1960), A woman is a woman (1961) e Pierrot the Fool (1965). François Truffautanother important figure of this French cinematographic movement, also invited him, only once, to Belmondo The Mississippi Siren (1969). A feature film that was not a great success, despite the presence of another star in the casting, Catherine Deneuve.
In it, Jean-Paul Belmondo plays Louis Mahé, a wealthy industrialist from the island of Réunion. Thanks to a wedding announcement, he prepares to marry Julie Roussel, who previously lived in New Caledonia, and whom he had never met before. When he finally discovers her, he can only notice that the woman who appears before him doesn’t look like her photo. The latter claims to have sent a fake photo on purpose, which is enough to convince Louis. Except that after their wedding, Julie disappears with all of Louis’ money. He will find her again in France, and will then understand that she has completely lied about her identity, and that her real name is Marion.
“The public doesn’t like it”
During much of the film, Louis appears ready to do anything to keep Marion with him. The human being madly in love with herhe will go so far as to sell his company to satisfy his wife. Worse, he’ll go so far as to kill to protect her. The Mississippi Siren (whose title written with a single “p” refers to a ship) is therefore a film about destructive passion. Catherine Deneuve surprises as an unscrupulous woman, that’s right Jean-Paul Belmondo victim of his love. A combination that unfortunately did not convince when the film was released in theaters. Both the press and the public received it rather coldly. It is precisely the use of Belmondo in the wrong way that has been criticized by some fans of the actor. He told it himself First in 1995 (via the CNC) that viewers couldn’t bear to see it in a weak position in front of Catherine Deneuve.
In an action movie, if the boy becomes a sissy, it’s not good! The public doesn’t like it. After La Sirena del Mississippi, when I went to boxing matches, the kids told me: “What! You get tortured by this girl! Eventually you would have to strangle him and you wouldn’t move…” They were furious!
Believing that the film was ahead of its time… Because the critic, for his part, underlined François Truffaut’s approach, believing that with The Mississippi Siren the director acted like “bourgeois, disconnected from reality and betraying through his style the precepts of the New Wave from which he came1.2 million spectators still went to theaters to see the feature film. A soundtrack considered disappointing given the casting and production costs. Which hasn’t stopped Hollywood from “doing it.” a remake with Original sin (2001) worn by Antonio Banderas and Angelina Jolie.
Source: Cine Serie
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