In order to please Martineau, a wealthy industrialist, cynical Gabory accepts to organize a rigged beauty contest whose winner will be Françoise, Martineau's young mistress. However, there are other comely contestants among whom Christiane, the daughter of a general, Jackie, an unemployed actress, Colette, the daughter of a distiller and Marie, a secretary engaged to serious-minded construction foreman Robert. So, will things turn out exactly the way Martineau and Gabory want them...?
Writing
Biting dialogue that weaponizes politeness.
Costume
Postwar haute couture as social armor.
Acting
Françoise Arnoul's mistress—naive or calculating? You decide.
Director
Christian Stengel
Nadine Alari
Marie Charmy
Françoise Arnoul
Françoise
Paul Bernard
Martineau
Claude Borelli
Competitor
Marc Cassot
Robert
Jacques Castelot
Gabory, the president
Henri Crémieux
Balbec de la Morlière
Nicole Francis
Colette Dumont
Jacqueline Gauthier
Jacqueline "Jackie" Tessier
Mag-Avril
A mother
Henri Marchand
Mayor of Royat
Renaud Mary
Alberto
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during France's postwar 'quality cinema' era, it satirizes the very commercial entertainment system that produced it—Stengel biting the hand that fed him.
Françoise Arnoul became director Marc Allégret's muse shortly after; this role's blend of innocence and calculation defined her stardom.
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