Stavisky... (1974)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(286 ratings)

This film by French director Alain Resnais (Last Year in Marienbad) is loosely based on a true story from the 1930s about financier, con-man and swindler Stavisky who was arrested in 1934 for selling phony stock but was never brought to trial. While in jail, he continued to engage in doubtful… More This film by French director Alain Resnais (Last Year in Marienbad) is loosely based on a true story from the 1930s about financier, con-man and swindler Stavisky who was arrested in 1934 for selling phony stock but was never brought to trial. While in jail, he continued to engage in doubtful monetary transactions. As the rumors that he was being protected by high-ranking members of the government of the French Third Republic were undoubtedly true, the scandal had a profoundly unsettling effect on the French nation, already suffering from poor government handling of the Depression, and this incident nearly brought down both the government and the Republic. Stavisky's death in prison (an apparent suicide) triggered widespread unrest and rioting. In the movie, when Stavisky (Jean-Paul Belmondo) goes to jail as a young con-man, his embarrassed father commits suicide. Ruining countless lives in his stellar career as a big-money swindler, including that of his nobleman friend Raoul (Charles Boyer), Stavisky is shown to be a pawn in a still bigger swindle, one which will destroy the Left and open the way to fascism. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Alain Resnais
Written By: Jorge Semprún
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1974 Wide
On DVD: Oct 1, 1991

Critic Reviews

Nora Sayre, New York Times
A spell-casting mood piece that is also factually frustrating.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Like Charles Foster Kane, Alexandre Stavisky is a man of intriguing parts that make up any number of wholes.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The picture is technically brilliant, visually stunning, and ceaselessly interesting.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A failed film, but attractive and interesting enough to earn the attention of all lovers of non-conventional cinema.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's a stylishly glowing film, shimmering with both romantic images and haunting visions.

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Cast

            Jean-Paul Belmondo as Stavisky

            Charles Boyer as Raoul

            François Périer as Borelli

            Anny Duperey as Arlette

            Michel Lonsdale as Mezy

            Roberto Bisacco as Montalvo

            Claude Rich as Bonny

            Gigi Ballista as Henriet

            Roland Bertin
            
            Yves Brainville as M de la Salle

            Van Doude
            
            Samson Fainsilber
            
            Fernand Guiot
            
            Maurice Jacquemont as Gauthier

            Daniel Lecourtois
            
            François Leterrier
            
            Jacques Spiesser as Granville

            Pierre Vernier as Pierre Grammont

            Paul Villé
            
            Gérard Depardieu as Le jeune inventeur

            Michel Beaune as Le maitre-chanteur

            Vicky Messica
            
            Guido Cerniglia
            
            Marcel Cuvelier as Bosseaud

            Jean Michaud
            
            Lucienne Legrand
            
            Lionel Vitrant
            
            Michael Lonsdale
            
See full cast