A Certain Smile (film)

A Certain Smile is a 1958 American drama film directed by Jean Negulesco, based on the book of the same name by Françoise Sagan.

A Certain Smile
Theatrical poster
Directed byJean Negulesco
Written byFrances Goodrich
Albert Hackett
Françoise Sagan
Produced byHenry Ephron
StarringRossano Brazzi
Joan Fontaine
CinematographyMilton Krasner
Edited byLouis R. Loeffler
Music byAlfred Newman
Distributed byTwentieth Century-Fox
Release date
  • July 31, 1958 (1958-07-31)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.3 million[1]
Box office$1.3 million (US rentals)[2][3]

Plot

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In Paris, beautiful Dominique Vallon is involved with a young man, Bertrand Griot, until suddenly entering into an unwise week-long romance with his wealthy and married uncle, Luc Ferrand.

Cast

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Production

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Christine Carère was cast in the main role, although she didn't know any English at the time. She was brought to Hollywood and trained for ten months before filming.[4] The Production Code Administration only authorized the film after substantial changes to the novel's story line. Negulesco later agreed "that A Certain Smile has not much of Sagan. She herself did not like it and she also wrote an article against it. She was right in saying that that was not her book."[5]

Awards and nominations

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Award Category Nominee(s) Result
Academy Awards[6][7] Best Art Direction Art Direction: Lyle R. Wheeler and John DeCuir;
Set Decoration: Walter M. Scott and Paul S. Fox
Nominated
Best Costume Design Charles LeMaire and Mary Wills Nominated
Best Song "A Certain Smile"
Music by Sammy Fain;
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Nominated
Laurel Awards Best Song 5th Place

References

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  1. ^ Solomon 1989, p. 251.
  2. ^ Solomon 1989, p. 227.
  3. ^ "Top Grossers of 1958". Variety. January 7, 1959. p. 48. Please note figures are for US and Canada only and are domestic rentals accruing to distributors as opposed to theatre gross
  4. ^ French Doll: Meet Christine Carere, a Tiny Bundle of Sheer Acting Talent / 'Mardi Gras' Is Next for Christine. Chicago Tribune archives, 15 June 1958, page 90
  5. ^ Michelangelo Capua, Jean Negulesco: The Life and Films, McFarland 2017, p.107
  6. ^ "The 31st Academy Awards (1959) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  7. ^ "NY Times: A Certain Smile". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2008.

Bibliography

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  • Solomon, Aubrey (1989). Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History. The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1.
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