The White Waltz

1943 film

15 December 1943 (1943-12-15)

Running time

100 minutesCountryFranceLanguageFrench

The White Waltz (French: La valse blanche) is a 1943 French drama film directed by Jean Stelli and starring Lise Delamare, André Alerme and Aimé Clariond.^[1]^[2] It was produced and released during the German occupation of France.

Synopsis

Bernard, a promising composer is engaged to Hélène, but is jealous of her relationship with Professor d'Estérel who she assists. After an argument he goes out into heavy rain and falls ill. He is sent to a sanatorium in the mountains to recover. There he encounters Jacqueline, a girl he once knew at the conservatoire, who is dying of tuberculosis. To try and soften the last weeks of her life he pretends to romance her. Hélène also helps to support this act of kindness.

Cast

Lise Delamare as Hélène Madelin
André Alerme as Monsieur Despillois
Aimé Clariond as Le professeur d'Estérel
Julien Bertheau as Bernard Lampré
Ariane Borg as Jacqueline Lorbodsen dite Jackie
Marcelle Géniat as Nany
Raymond Cordy as Le peintre René Dupré
Marcelle Monthil as Mademoiselle Zamb
Michel de Bonnay as Jeannot
Annette Poivre as Lily
Paul Barge as Le concierge
Lucien Desagneaux as Un élève du Conservatoire
Luce Fabiole as La mère de Jeannot
Georges Gosset as L'ami d'Hélène
Albert Morys as Un malade
Maurice Tricard as Le docteur Bohains
Roger Vincent as Le critique

References

^ Weber p.230
^ Rège p.168

Bibliography

Rège, Philippe. Encyclopedia of French Film Directors, Volume 1. Scarecrow Press, 2009.
Weber, Alain. La bataille du film: 1933-1945, le cinéma français entre allégeance et résistance. Ramsay, 2007.