1956 - ELENA AND HER MEN aka PARIS DOES STRANGE THINGS

Ingrid Bergman who had just entered her early 40's is at her most radiant in this film by the great French filmmaker Jean Renoir.  In this film Bergman is courted by several suitors all of who she manages to hold at bay until she finally chooses the guy she wants.  Bergman had a long career in the film industry with lots of highs in 1940's Hollywood and a big low with her involvement with Italian director Roberto Rossellini (having a child out of wedlock the horror, the horror). 

Elena and Her Men was made after Jean Renoir's return to France.  He had been in exile in Hollywood during World War II.  Renoir struggled in Hollywood and was never very comfortable with the cookie cutter studio approach to film making.   The films he made upon his return to France are considerably more light weight than some of his serious 1930's films such as Rules of the Game and Grand Illusion.  He certainly had the ability to film comedy with the amusing Boudu Saved from Drowning.  So filming a farce 20 years later wasn't difficult for him.

 

Elena and Her Men is frequently mentioned by critics as a variation on his theme of the foolishness of the upper class which he satirized in Rules of the Game.  Renoir certainly ridicules the upper class in this film but this is a very paper thin story for the most part.

 

The film was mostly filmed in the studio.  Claude Renoir who was an outstanding color cinematographer was responsible for the look of the film. This movie is absolutely gorgeous to look at.   Claude Renoir also happened to be the nephew of Jean Renoir.  Jean Marius and actor usually associated with Jean Cocteau is one of Bergman's suitors.  American actor Mel Ferrer is another.

The film was written by Jean Renoir and Jean Serge, the running time is 98 minutes.