It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.
This week’s musical:
French Cancan (1955) – Musical #818
Studio:
Francoeur Studios
Director:
Jean Renoir
Starring:
Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, María Félix, Anna Amendola, Jean-Roger Caussimon, Dora Doll, Giani Esposito, Franco Pastorino, Gaston Gabaroche, Jacques Jouanneau, Jean Parédès, Valentine Tessier, Pierre Olaf, Phillipe Clay
Specialty performers: Édith Piaf, Patachou
Plot:
Night club owner Henri Danglard (Gabin) is always looking for new talent, from dancers to a whistling Pierrot (Olaf). While “slumming” at the White Queen with his star Lola (Félix), Danglard discovers a young laundress, Nini (Arnoul), who is doing the old dance, the cancan. Lola is infuriated and jealous of Nini as Danglard decides to build an act and brand new nightclub, the Moulin Rouge, around the cancan dance. As Nini’s life changes, suitors come in and out of her life, leaving her confused about who and what she wants. She thinks she’s in love with Danglard, but his main love is art.
This week’s musical:
Comet Over Hollywood 