SILENCE IS GOLDEN (MAN ABOUT TOWN)

France, 1947, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Maurice Chevalier, Francois Perier, Dany Robin.
Directed by Rene Clair.

Silence is Golden (Man About Town) is a very entertaining Rene Clair comedy from 1947. Clair was a celebrated French director in the silent era and moved comfortably into the sound era. During World War Two he made a number of films in the United States including I Married A Witch with Veronica Lake and Fredric March. On his return to France he made a number of excellent comedies in the '40s and '50s. Maurice Chevalier was a popular French actor entertainer for many decades. After a period in Hollywood in the '30s, he returned to France - though he was later to appear in Hollywood films of the '50s and '60s. His performance here as Emile captures the essence of the actor: genial, a man about town, wise, humorous, compassionate. A young Francois Perrier is the lovesick actor.

The film captures the atmosphere of the turn of the century, especially in the studios with their techniques and way of life in making silent films.

1. An entertaining comedy? The period of silent film-making? The atmosphere of Paris at the turn of the century? French charm?

2. Black and white photography, the creation of period: decor sets, costumes? The atmosphere of the times: the city, the buses, the streets, theatre. carnivals, cinema, studios? The atmosphere of monarchy and royalty? An age of elegance and humour? The musical score and songs?

3. The meaning of the title - and its reference to Emile and all his advice, Jacques and Madeleine and their crisis? The alternate title with the emphasis on Emile and his style and manner?

4. The portrait of the times: Paris and its atmosphere of romance, carnivals and films. the man about town and his elegance and flirtatious manner, the susceptibilities of the ladies, the lovesick heroes? Carnivals and their entertainment. street theatre, the popular theatre? Early films and audience enjoyment? The transitions in technology - but the echoes of a 19th. century world? A tribute to a past period? Nostalgia?

5. Maurice Chevalier's presence and his portrait of Emile? The film-maker, charming with the ladies, his continued advice to Jacques (and his rehearsing his routines and trying them out on ladies on buses etc.)? Jacques' imitation of Emile and the irony of his using his techniques - especially with Madeleine and the ensuing complications? Emile and his skill in making popular films? His management of his office - hurrying Joseph and his accounts away? Relationship with the men at the studio? Monsieur Duperieur - and his flirtations? The friendship with Jacques and acting like a father to him? His advice and illustrating it? The farewell to the army? The visit to Celestin and the memories of Celestin's wife and his love for her? The encounter with Madeleine? Wanting to help her, taking her in, his acting like a father, his falling in love: his asking the stagehands to protect her (and their humorous ways of doing this? His infatuation, the outings, the violin-playing, the flowers? His not realising that she had fallen in love? The dilemma with Jacques? Punching him? Talking things out? His realisation that he was old, Celestin's new marriage, his letting Madeleine stay? The decoration by the King? The finale with the Grand Vizier in the film and his speech about growing old and letting young love blossom. His watching the film with the lady who liked the happy ending? A genial portrait of a man about town?

6. Jacques as the lovelorn hero? Infatuation with Lucette, urging her for the part of the angel, Monsieur Duperieur's attentions and his failing? His thinking that he was a failure, tuition by Emile? His going to the army? His return, the chance encounter with Madeleine, using Emile's techniques, the romantic and happy night, discovery of Madeleine at the filming, his dilemma about telling Emile, the stagehands trying to warn him off, Emile going with him to his house when Madeleine was there? His falling in love, attempting to fight with Madeleine and failing? Wanting to tell the truth, doing go? His getting drunk and Emile's looking after him? The final filming and the happy ending?

7. Madeleine and her beauty and charm? Celestin's daughter? The daughter of Emile's long lost love? Her being in the city, being picked up, Emile rescuing her? Installing her in the house, treating her as a daughter? Giving her the opportunity for films and her success? Her enjoying Paris? Her outings with Emile - but her feeling that she wasn't pretty and no-one loved her? The encounter with Jacques? The romantic evening? Telling the truth? Her caution during the filming? Not telling Emile, being discovered? Her leaving and the clash? Her not wanting to be told what to do? Her father's marrying again? Her return? The happy ending? A pleasing romantic heroine?

8. Monsieur Duperieur and his eye for the ladies, attracting Lucette? (And Lucette doing her best to aid him?) The stagehands and their loyalty, their looking after Madeleine? Joseph and his flurry? Monsieur Duperieur and the visit of the King and the Sultan? The irony of everybody getting the royal decoration? His frustration at Emile?

9. Celestin and the vaudeville background, his singing his song yet talking to Emile and Jacques, his not seeming to have charm, his two marriages, his abandoning his daughter?

10. The humour of the film sequences - the basic plots, posings, attitudes, romance? Sad and happy endings?


11. A portrait of Paris? Parisians? The pleasure of charm and innocence?