# Demoiselles de Rochefort, Les (1967)

### reviewed by
Michael Dequina

_The_Young_Girls_of_Rochefort_(Les_Demoiselles_de_Rochefort)_ (G) *** (out of ****)

Director Jacques Demy and composer Michel Legrand's 1967 musical follow-up to their classic 1964 jazz opera _The_Umbrellas_of_Cherbourg_ is by no means the masterpiece that film was, but it is not without its frothy charms. Catherine Deneuve, who also starred in _Umbrellas_, and her real-life sister, Francoise Dorleac, respectively play fraternal twin sisters Delphine and Solange Garnier. Delphine is a dancer; Solange is a composer, and both have dreams that stretch beyond the boundaries of their small hometown of Rochefort--first and foremost being finding true love. Little do they know that their perfect matches are also wandering the local streets: poet/artist/sailor Maxence (Jacques Perrin) and American composer Andy Miller (Gene Kelly), respectively. Delphine and Solange's mother (Danielle Darrieux) also pines for a true love--a lost one--who, yes, also happens to be in town: music shop owner Simon Dame (Michel Piccoli). These six characters constantly run into each other, but, of course, each just as constantly misses his or her match.

Although much of _Rochefort_'s creative team, from the director, composer, and lead actress to many of the dubbed-in singing voices are the same as those of _Umbrellas_, the two films could not be more different. While _Umbrellas_ was entirely sung but without a single dance number, _Rochefort_ is a more traditional musical, with spoken interludes between lavish production numbers and wall-to-wall dancing. But the most crucial difference is the tone; where the heartbreaking _Umbrellas_ was tragically bittersweet, _Rochefort_ is unremittingly sunny, which fits the light storyline. However, all the lightness makes this film, unlike the emotionally sweeping _Umbrellas_, a completely disposable entertainment. Nonetheless, _Rochefort_, while an overlong 125 minutes, is a delightful confection, made all the sweeter by Legrand's jazzy, toe-tapping score, Bernard Evein's candy-colored production design, and the energetic cast.

Michael Dequina mrbrown@iname.com | michael_jordan@geocities.com Mr. Brown's Movie Site: http://welcome.to/mrbrown CompuServe Hollywood Hotline: http://www.HollywoodHotline.com

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