A Certain Smile

Posted by Larita Shotwell on Monday, February 5, 2024

In the second of Francoise Sagan's novels to be filmed, once again the principal character is a young and attractive girl, only this time the 'shocker' involves her week-long affair with an older man.

In the second of Francoise Sagan’s novels to be filmed, once again the principal character is a young and attractive girl, only this time the ‘shocker’ involves her week-long affair with an older man.

Only the very basic elements in the slim Sagan book have been retained in this glossy, emotional yarn. None of the moody disenchantment of the girl in the book comes through and of course the ending has been totally changed. In Sagan’s original the heroine blithely continued her affairs both with regular boyfriend and older lover.

As a film A Certain Smile is well made, reasonably well acted and quite magnificently photographed. Having so strenuously toned down the amoral aspects of their story, producer and director apparently decided to go whole hog for the visual aspects. As a result, the film abounds with mouth-watering vistas of the French Riviera, which is photographed from every possible vantage point, providing an idyllic setting for the romantic goings-on between Rossano Brazzi and Christine Carere. Scenes in the Paris streets also come alive temptingly.

Popular on Variety

Carere is charming and petite, turning in a capable performance that’s just a shade too much on the wholesome side. Boyfriend Bradford Dillman, also a newcomer, is good-looking in an unconventional way. He does well in a frustrating role. Brazzi is suavely Continental as the middle-aged Don Juan, and wife Joan Fontaine suffers as required by script.

1958: Nominations: Best Costume Design, Art Direction, Song (‘A Certain Smile’)

Jump to Comments

A Certain Smile

  • Production: 20th Century-Fox. Director Jean Negulesco; Producer Henry Ephron; Screenplay Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett; Camera Milton Krasner; Editor Louis Loeffler; Music Alfred Newman;; Art Director Lyle R. Wheeler, John F. DeCuir
  • Crew: (Color) Widescreen. Extract of a review from 1958. Running time: 105 MIN.
  • With: Rossano Brazzi Joan Fontaine Bradford Dillman Christine Carere Eduard Franz Kathryn Givney

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9mhnaDjp%2BgpaVfp7K3tcSwqmiZXZiys8DAoqVmq52euaZ5kGtnaWxhbn55f44%3D

CATALOG
    FEATURED TAGS