| Ruy Blas | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Directed by | Pierre Billon |
| Screenplay by | Jean Cocteau |
| Based on | Ruy Blas by Victor Hugo |
| Produced by | Georges Legrand Nino Martegani André Paulvé |
| Starring | Danielle Darrieux Jean Marais Marcel Herrand |
| Cinematography | Michel Kelber |
| Edited by | Maurice Serein |
| Music by | Georges Auric |
Production companies | Films André Paulvé Productions Georges Legrand Martegani Produzione |
| Distributed by | DisCina Atlantis Film |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Countries | France Italy |
| Language | French |
| Box office | 2,453,187 admissions (France) [1] |
Ruy Blas is a 1948 French-Italian historical drama film directed by Pierre Billon and starring Danielle Darrieux, Jean Marais and Marcel Herrand. The screenplay was written by Jean Cocteau based on the 1838 play of the same title by Victor Hugo. [1] It was shot at the Icet Studios in Milan and on location at Cassis in Southern France. The film's sets were designed by the art director Georges Wakhévitch.
Bosley Crowther, The New York Times critic, wrote:
... it is plainly,[ sic ] apparent that the famous "bad boy" of French films [Cocteau] has paid more attention to the appearance than to the dramatic vitality of his job. ... the story here played of a young student, who, because of his resemblance to an errant grandee, is introduced into the Spanish court as a pawn in an intrigue against the queen is so stiff and vague in its development that it lacks emotional force. And it is performed with such decadence of gesture that it is just a bit absurd. Jean Marais, who plays the student Ruy Blas and also the naughty grandee, is a very handsome young fellow, but he is decidedly prissy in this film. And his wild and grinning expressions in those scenes wherein he's called upon to play with a great Douglas Fairbanks abandon are almost ludicrous. [2]