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Nov 07, 2013 Web Exclusive By Austin Trunick

Max Ophüls’ French 1953 production is widely regarded as one of the German-born director’s best, and Criterion’s presentation lives up to that reputation. The film centers on the beautiful Louise—there’s a running gag no one can catch her last name, hence the title’s ellipses—played by Danielle Darrieux. To cover personal debts, she sells a pair of earrings given to her by her army general husband (Charles Boyer) on their wedding day; from there, they’re re-purchased, given away, re-sold, purchased again, and eventually come back to Louise via a handsome diplomat—played by filmmaker Vittorio De Sica—who becomes her lover. As the lies build and the earrings continue their travels, the aristocratic love triangle build towards a tense, final standoff. It’s a charming—and quite funny—period drama with gorgeous cinematography and art direction; extras here include an introduction by Paul Thomas Anderson and the film’s source novel.

www.criterion.com/films/571-the-earrings-of-madame-de

Author rating: 7.5/10