The Curtain Rises
Entrée des artistes
1938, France, Paris, at the Superior Conservatory of Dramatic Art ("Conservatoire Supérieur d'Art Dramatique"). The first-year entrance exams are in full swing. Many applicants, few accepted. Isabelle (Janine Darcey) is one of the few chosen. She joins former students from the second and third years, including François (Claude Dauphin) and Cécilia (Odette Joyeux). They attend the drama class run by Professor Lambertin (Louis Jouvet). The young people, passionate and eager to become comedians, clash in tumultuous love affairs, because by dint of acting, they imagine that life is a farce. François, for example, is in love with Isabelle, who also loves him, but is pursued by Cecilia, his former mistress... "Put art in your life and life in your art!"
Production Countries
Production Companies
Cast
Julien Carette
as Lurette, le journaliste
Claude Dauphin
as François Polti
Odette Joyeux
as Cécilia Prieur
Marcel Lupovici
as Le tragédien (uncredited)
Paula Dehelly
as Micheline (uncredited)
Hélène Dassonville
as Une élève du Conservatoire
André Roussin
as Giflard, un élève du Conservatoire
Noël Roquevert
as M. Pignolet, un vigile (uncredited)
Odette Talazac
as Une sociétaire (uncredited)
Dora Doll
as Une élève du Conservatoire (uncredited)
Roger Blin
as Dominique, le gardien du château de la famille de Cécilia
Sylvie
as Clémence
Made Siamé
as La mère de Louise (uncredited)
Gaby André
as Mireille, une élève du Conservatoire
Michel Vitold
as Gabriel, un élève du Conservatoire
Marcel Dalio
as Le juge d'instruction
Bernard Blier
as Pescani, un élève du Conservatoire
Robert Pizani
as Jérôme
Yves Brainville
as Sylvestre
Albert Broquin
as Le crieur de journaux (uncredited)
Marcelle Monthil
as La chaisière du parc du Luxembourg (uncredited)
Louise Fouquet
as Une élève du Conservatoire (Lola Mouloudji) (uncredited)
Robert Moor
as Albert, le concierge (uncredited)
Georges Pally
as Marty, le patron du café
Janine Darcey
as Isabelle Didier
Paul Escoffier
as Le directeur du Conservatoire (uncredited)
Gabrielle Fontan
as Une mère provincviale (uncredited)
Monique Mélinand
as Une élève du Conservatoire (uncredited)
Louis Jouvet
as M. Lambertin, professeur au Conservatoire
André Brunot
as Fernand Grenaison, l'oncle d'Isabelle
Jacques Jansen
as Un élève du Conservatoire (uncredited)