Stavisky... (1974)

Director:

Alain Resnais

Writer:

Jorge Semprún (writer)

Release Date:

15 May 1974 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Irrestisible charm and talent helps Serge Alexandre alias Stavisky, small-time swindler, to make friends...

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Serge Alexandre Stavisky
François Périer	...	Albert Borelli
Anny Duperey	...	Arlette
Michael Lonsdale	...	Docteur Mézy
Roberto Bisacco	...	Juan Montalvo de Montalbon
Claude Rich	...	Inspecteur Bonny
Charles Boyer	...	Le baron Jean Raoul
Pierre Vernier	...	Me Pierre Grammont
Marcel Cuvelier	...	Inspecteur Boussaud
Van Doude	...	Inspecteur principal Gardet
Jacques Spiesser	...	Michel Grandville
Michel Beaune	...	Le journaliste maître-chanteur
Maurice Jacquemont	...	Gauthier
Silvia Badescu	...	Erna Wolfgang
Jacques Eyser	...	Véricourt
Fernand Guiot	...	Van Straaten
Daniel Lecourtois	...	Le président de la commission d'enquête
Gérard Depardieu	...	Le jeune inventeur
Nike Arrighi	...	Edith Boréal
Samson Fainsilber	...	L'employé au fichier
Raymond Girard	...	Dr. Pierre
Gigi Ballista	...	Gaston Henriet
Guido Cerniglia	...	Laloy
Yves Brainville	...	M. de la Salle
Gabriel Cattand	...	Un député à la commission d'enquête
Jean Michaud	...	Houriaux
Niels Arestrup	...	Rudolph, le secrétaire de Trotski
Roland Bertin	...	L'employé et gardien au cimetière
Imelde Marani	...	La provinciale / La belle inconnue
Lucienne Legrand	...	La secrétaire du Professeur Pierre
Guy Piérauld	...	Le contrôleur-receveur
Yves Peneau	...	Léon Trotski
Dominique Rollin	...	Sedov
Catherine Sellers	...	Natalya
Paul Villé	...	L'huissier
Vicky Messica	...	Le régisseur
Lionel Vitrant	...	Un invité
Georges Yacoubian	...	Le valet de chambre
François Leterrier	...	André Malraux
Jean-Michel Charlier	...	Le commissaire divisionnaire
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Davy	...	La voix de Corolian (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Alain Resnais

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jorge Semprún		writer

Produced by
Georges Dancigers	....	delegate producer
Alexandre Mnouchkine	....	delegate producer

Original Music by
Stephen Sondheim

Cinematography by
Sacha Vierny

Film Editing by
Albert Jurgenson

Production Design by
Jacques Saulnier

Costume Design by
Jacqueline Moreau

Makeup Department
Marc Blanchard	....	hair stylist
Charly Koubesserian	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Alain Belmondo	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean Léon	....	assistant director
Philippe Lopez	....	assistant director
Florence Malraux	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Bernard Bats	....	sound
Jean-Pierre Ruh	....	sound

Music Department
Georges Bacri	....	musical director
Jonathan Tunick	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Peter Fernandez	....	voice director: English version (uncredited)
Julien Guiomar	....	voice dubbing: Gaston Henriet (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cerito Films
• Les Films Ariane
• Simar Films
• Euro International Film (EIA) (co-production)

Distributors

• Compagnie Commerciale Française Cinématographique (CCFC) (1974) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinemation Industries (1974) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)

Also Known As:

L'empire d'Alexandre
Stavisky, il grande truffatore (Italy)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:PG

Company:

Cerito Films

Trivia:

On February 7, 1934, the French Ministry of the Interior and the Paris Police Prefecture banned the showing of newsreel footage of the previous day's mêlée by right-wing royalists, war veterans and members of the anti-semitic, nationalist, anti-republican Action Francaise movement, who rioted to bring down the Daladier government over the Stavisky affair. The riots left 17 dead and 116 wounded. One Parisian cinema, Reginald Ford's Cineac Theatre, defied the censorship to show footage of the riots by the reactionary forces, which had been caught on-camera by French and foreign newsreel photographers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Les savates du bon Dieu (2000)

good insight into a charming sociopath

While this is far from my favorite French film, I did enjoy it--particularly as it did a good job of both including the historical aspects of 1933 with an in-depth portrait of a charming sociopath who had a touch of madness. The main character, Stavisky, was ably portrayed by Jean Paul Belmondo and it was very interesting to see the supporting work done by Charles Boyer (in one of his last films). However, I think the best work was done by the writers as they did an accurate job of showing a certain type of sociopath--the anti-social personality with some evidence of a thought disorder. The main character, though completely amoral and conniving, truly seemed to believe he was special and "moral" and that his illegal schemes would somehow magically work out fine. He stole and lied and cheated but somehow felt that society's laws were not intended for someone like him. In some ways, it makes you wonder if some of our most famous and successful moguls and politicians have a touch of Stavisky inside of them!