La Symphonie fantastique
La Symphonie fantastique
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.
Production Countries
Production Companies
Cast
Bernard Blier
as Antoine Charbonnel
Catherine Fonteney
as Madame Berlioz mother (uncredited)
Louis Seigner
as Habeneck (uncredited)
Joé Davray
as Student (uncredited)
Gilbert Gil
as Louis Berlioz
Julien Bertheau
as Victor Hugo (uncredited)
Roland Armontel
as Eugène Delacroix (uncredited)
René Fluet
as Jules Janin (uncredited)
Georges Mauloy
as Dean of the Academies (uncredited)
Eugène Yvernès
as (uncredited)
Jean Darcante
as Prosper Mérimée (uncredited)
Jacques Dynam
as (uncredited)
Pierre Magnier
as Professor (uncredited)
Marcelle Monthil
as Dresser (uncredited
Renée Saint-Cyr
as Marie Martin
Rivers Cadet
as Consumer (uncredited)
Lucien Coëdel
as Typographer (uncredited)
Michel Vitold
as Orchestra conductor (uncredited)
Georges Vitray
as Ship's commander (uncredited)
Jules Berry
as Schlesinger
Roger Vincent
as (uncredited)
Georges Gosset
as Alexandre Dumas (uncredited)
Louis Salou
as Director of the Opéra (uncredited)
Lise Delamare
as Harriet Smithson
Noël Roquevert
as Gendarme (uncredited)
Maurice Schutz
as Niccolò Paganini (uncredited)
Jean-Louis Barrault
as Hector Berlioz
