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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Mon coeur t'appelle remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old black-and-white musicals that don't take themselves too seriously, sure. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it moves fast enough that you won't get bored. If you need a gritty plot or something that makes you think, steer clear. This is pure 1930s comfort food.
The whole thing kicks off on a boat. Mario, the tenor, finds a stowaway in his cabin, which is a classic trope that somehow never gets old. Danielle Darrieux as Nicole? She’s got this sparkle that basically carries the entire movie. You can tell the troupe is just a bunch of actors having a good time on set.
The transition to Monte Carlo is where things get a bit messy. The opera director is a total slimeball. He’s the kind of guy who wouldn't know talent if it hit him in the face, but he’s got an eye for the ladies. Watching Nicole try to manipulate him is the only part that feels like it has a real pulse.
It’s not quite as grand as Kismet, but it doesn't try to be. It feels more like a breezy afternoon spent watching someone else’s vacation footage. Sometimes the camera just lingers on the scenery for no reason at all, like the director forgot to yell cut.
There's this one shot of a staircase that seems to go on for an eternity. It makes me wonder if they just ran out of plot and needed to fill time. Still, the energy is high. Nobody is phoning it in, even when the script is clearly thin as paper.
If you enjoy stuff like The Wet Parade, you might find this one a bit too sunny, but that's the point. It's an escape. It’s 80 minutes of people singing in fancy clothes, and honestly, that’s fine by me. Just don't expect it to change your life. 🎵