LE SAUVAGE/ LOVERS LIKE US
France, 1975, 107 minutes,. Colour.
Yves Montand, Catherine Deneuve, Luigi Vannucchi, Tony Roberts, Bobo Lewis, Dana Wynter, Vernon Dobtcheff.
Directed by Jean- Paul Rappeneau.
Le Sauvage was a very popular romantic comedy of 1975. By this time, Yves Montand was a French icon, actor, singer. Catherine Deneuve, although only 32 at this time, had already had an 11 year career in films beginning with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
This very implausible comedy was written and directed by veteran Jean- Paul Rappeneau, his later films include Horsemen on the Roof and Bon Voyage.
Whatever her status at the time, Catherine Deneuve’s playing of Nelly makes her a very irritating character. On the other hand, Montand is all charm. Tony Roberts appears in the supporting cast and it is the last film for British actress of the 1950s, Dana Wynter.
The setting is Venezuelan, the city of Caracas, with the bulk of the scenes on an island off the coast and then some sequences in the business world in New York City.
On the island, Montand pursues his life and work while putting up with Deneuve and her troublesome presence – but the screenplay inevitably having the couple move towards each other for a sexual liaison.
Many audiences will enjoy the offbeat romantic comedy – while others may well be irritated by Catherine Deneuve’s character.
1. A very popular box office film of 1975? The stars? The Latin American settings, Caracas, the island? The musical score?
2. The title, the reference to Martin – and whether Nellie was also savage? The low key English title?
3. The introduction to Nellie, Catherine Deneuve in 1975? The engagement, her fiance, his family, the dances, the speeches, the effect on her, going through the motions? Her relationship with Vittorio? His type, very Italian? Her decision to pack, run away? In the early hours?
4. Contacting Alex, the American, the former boss, his decision to help her or not, his Toulouse- Lautrec painting? With Vittorio? Becoming involved in the chase, his later reappearance – and his trying to recover the painting, Nathalie smudging it, destroying it?
5. The chance encounter with Martin, his work, the background of the markets and vegetables? In the hotel, Vittorio and the search, Alex, the apartment? Nelly’s escape? In the room, Martin and his continually being disturbed? Her putting the alarm forward? The lift to the airport, the discovery of the truth, the plane ticket, going back to France?
6. Martin, his boat, the islands, finding Nelly already there? The bulk of the film and their interactions, the interplay, his life and work, communications and phone, the plane going over, the background of his wife, Nelly snooping in finding the photos, the documents, the company, the perfume? Her wilfulness? Breaking down his tolerance? The eventual sexual encounter? Her sinking the boat, their being stranded?
7. The company, in New York, the executives, the meetings, the woman who was continually present throughout the film, taking photos, her being employed
by Martin’s wife? Martin’s wife, her role in the company? Martin being summoned to New York? The confrontations? His losing out, imprisonment?
8. The years passing, his looking for Nelly, finding her, the happy reunion?
9. Romantic comedy – the plausibility and implausibility of the characters in the plot?
