French Cancan (1954)

This is quite an entertaining story about monsieur "Danglard" (Jean Gabin) who runs a chic little Parisian café but hasn't two sous to rub together. He's ambitious though, a bit of a dreamer, an so when out on a jaunt with belly-dancing mistress "Lola" (Maria Félix) to the city's seedy Montmatre district he sees the original cancan in full flow and decides that there's still a place for that dance in late 19th century society. How to raise the cash, though? Who is going to lead the dance? Well that latter question is solved when he meets the feisty "Nini" (Françoise Arnoul). She works in a laundry by day, but is a mean dancer and just the person. The first of his problems is fortuitously solved by the kindly intervention of the wealthy young prince "Alexandre" (Giani Esposito) who is so loved up that he donates the dilapidated old "Moulin Rouge" to help make it all happen. As this sumptuously lively drama continues, a love triangle develops between the two girls and the impresario "Danglard" and there's some professional rivalry smouldering too whilst the increasingly sidelined prince must deal with an unwelcome rejection. With opening night looming, tempers fray and "Nini" becomes jealous - but will she go on stage? This is good fun to watch, a colourfully enjoyable romp through a French society full of lust, longing and a fair amount of absinthe before a denouement that is extended and vibrant. It's actually quite reminiscent of a few of the Hollywood films of the mid 1950s with a solid story, strong cast and some quite witty writing to help it tell a story that taps into history, national pride and, of course, a good old fashioned love story (well, quite a few if them, actually).