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