THE GOLDEN COACH/ LA CAROSSE D’OR

Italy, 1952, 103 minutes, Colour.
Anna Magnani, Duncan Lamont, Paul Campbell, Ricardo Rioli.
Directed by Jean Renoir.

The Golden Coach is considered a classic by the highly esteemed French director, Jean Renoir. He had established himself in the 1930s with the critically acclaimed Regles du Jeu. He was in Hollywood during World War II, able to direct quite a number of feature films. After the war, he returned to France and continued making films there for several decades. He was praised for the black and white photography of many of his early films but in the 1950s he moved to colour, sometimes lavishly as in this film and his story of Lola Montez.

The film is set in South America, Peru, in the 18th century. A troupe of travelling players, specialists in commedia dell’arte, arrive in Lima. The star of the ensemble is played by Anna Magnani. She is feted by the crowds and attracts the attention of the viceroy, a nobleman soldier, and a bullfighter. The viceroy offers her a golden coach.

At the end, Renoir makes the point that there are three stages: the ordinary stage of real life outside the theatre, the stage within the theatre with its performance and artificiality, and the stage of the imagination which interprets the meaning of the play.
Eventually, the actress gives the golden coach to the church for its ministry.

1. The films of Jean Renoir? In France in the 1930s, the U.S. in the 1940s, his subsequent career in France, this film as an Italian production? Its cult status?

2. The theatrical design of the film, the opening with the stage, Camilla on stage, the audience, the contrast with the real world outside the theatre? The photography, the style, and stage compositions and representation? The beauty of the colour photography? The musical score, Vivaldi?

3. Sets, décor, costumes? The atmosphere of the 18th century?

4. The 18th century, the group of players, in Peru, South America of the 18th century? The city of Lima, the buildings, theatres, churches? The viceroy? The upper class? The contrast with the ordinary people?

5. The Commedia dell’ Arte? The traditions? The plays? Theatrical devices and conventions? This screenplay based on a play by Prosper Merrime?

6. The actors, the produces, the technical helpers? Theatre, stage, scenes, the acts, characters, the response of the audiences? Travelling?

7. South American Society, the Viceroy, his lavish lifestyle, the golden coach? The place of the church? Camilla’s gift of the coach to the church?

8. Camilla, Anna Magnani, her screen presence, the vivacity of her personality, age and experience? Her performances? Her arrival, the trip, the entrepreneur, the barn, the deals, the arrangements, the theatre and the audiences? The attention of the viceroy? The attention of the official? The bullfighter? Her response to each of the men? Her manipulating them?

9. The trip, the leader, with Camilla, the men and women, the children, his style?

10. The viceroy, his power, his lifestyle, wealth, the golden coach, for a mistress, his giving it to Camilla? His love, commitment? As a character?

11. Felipe, young, the officer, smitten with Camilla, wanting to go to the country, with the Indians?

12. The bullfighter, his status and reputation, his skills, smitten with Camilla, his overtures to her?

13. The dramatic climax, philosophical about the meaning of life? The gradual disappearance of each of the suitors? Becoming part of the audience?
Leaving Camilla on stage?

14. The three stages: the reality of ordinary life outside the theatre, the world of the theatre and staged performance, stepping out of reality into the world of the play? And the final stage, the reflection on the meaning of the play as well as of real life?