When they wanted someone to do Versatile in Hollywood they sent for Howard Hawks, who in his time churned out high quality Westerns, Musicals, Screwball Comedies, Thrillers, Gangster movies and ordinary Dramas. In France his counterpart was Julien Duvivier who was equally at home in a variety of genres. In his fifth decade as a writer-director he made two versions of a Romantic Fantasy both starring the German actress Marianne Hold. I've yet to see the German version of Marianne de ma jeunesse but the French entry represents Duvivier on top of his game. Nothing or no one is quite what it/they seem(s) here. Duvivier begins by letting his camera roam freely through Bavarian forest til it establishes a typical Schloss and just when we figure we know what's coming it is revealed to be a school for children of well-heeled parents. Gradually a ring-leader, Vincent (Pierre Vaneck) emerges from the pack and after some well-controlled pacing by Duvivier he encounters the eponymous Marianne, falls in love, loses the girl and grows up. That's putting it baldly but the film achieves its effects much more subtly, gradually drawing the viewer into a fantasy realm that may exist only in youthful heightened imagination. This really is a film that will haunt the susceptible viewer and should be sought out by discerning viewers.
Review of Marianne of My Youth
