📜 Overview:
The film is biographical, telling the story of the life and artistic struggles of the French composer Hector Berlioz. Berlioz is shown as a recalcitrant medical student in an anatomy class dreaming of becoming a composer; at a demonstration during a performance at the Paris Opéra conducted by Habeneck; at supper with other young artists (Hugo, Janin, Dumas, Mérimée, Delacroix); and chasing after his future wife Harriet Smithson, after a performance of Hamlet. Also depicted are his life in a garret, while suffering from an illness due to an abscess in the throat; a visit from his mother who curses him; and the composition of the Symphonie fantastique. The film then shows his marital breakdown, the premiere of his opera Benvenuto Cellini, his travels throughout Europe, his second marriage to Marie Recio (called "Marie Martin" in the film), public acceptance in old age and reconciliation with his son.
🌏 Languages Available:
French
📆 Date Released:
1942-04-01
⌚ Running Time:
95 mins
⭐ Vote Average:
5.7
Beloved Cast
Hector Berlioz
Jean-Louis Barrault
Marie Martin
Renée Saint-Cyr
Harriet Smithson
Lise Delamare
Schlesinger
Jules Berry
Antoine Charbonnel
Bernard Blier
Louis Berlioz
Gilbert Gil
Victor Hugo (uncredited)
Julien Bertheau
Madame Berlioz mother (uncredited)
Catherine Fonteney
Habeneck (uncredited)
Louis Seigner
Gendarme (uncredited)
Noël Roquevert
Eugène Delacroix (uncredited)
Roland Armontel
Consumer (uncredited)
Rivers Cadet
(uncredited)
Fabienne Clery
(uncredited)
Jacques Cossin
Typographer (uncredited)
Lucien Coëdel
Prosper Mérimée (uncredited)
Jean Darcante
Student (uncredited)
Joé Davray
Housekeeper (uncredited)
Mona Dol
Consumer (uncredited)
Maurice Dorléac
(uncredited)
Jacques Dynam
Jules Janin (uncredited)
René Fluet
Alexandre Dumas (uncredited)
Georges Gosset
Russian Chamberlain (uncredited)
Georges Lafon
Professor (uncredited)
Pierre Magnier
Dean of the Academies (uncredited)
Georges Mauloy
Dresser (uncredited
Marcelle Monthil
Coachman (uncredited)
Martial Rèbe
Director of the Opéra (uncredited)
Louis Salou
Niccolò Paganini (uncredited)
Maurice Schutz
(uncredited)
Roger Vincent
Orchestra conductor (uncredited)
Michel Vitold
Ship's commander (uncredited)
Georges Vitray
(uncredited)
Eugène Yvernès
