The Private Affairs of Bel Ami

1947

Action / Drama

5
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 60% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.7/10 10 830 830

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Plot summary

A self-serving journalist uses influential women in late-1800s Paris and denies the one who truly loves him.


Uploaded by: FREEMAN
March 31, 2018 at 11:08 PM

Director

Top cast

Angela Lansbury as Clotilde de Marelle
George Sanders as Georges Duroy
John Carradine as Charles Forestier
Hugo Haas as Monsieur Walter
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
924.19 MB
968*720
English 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 52 min
Seeds ...
1.76 GB
1440*1072
English 2.0
NR
23.976 fps
1 hr 52 min
Seeds 1

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by MOscarbradley 9 / 10

One of the most adult and intelligent American films of the forties.

Albert Lewin's reputation rests almost entirely on two films, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" but his masterpiece must surely be the little known and little seen "The Private Affairs of Bel Ami" from the novel by Guy De Maupassant. It is, of course, a very witty portrait of a cad, beautifully played by George Sanders, but it is also a film of considerable psychological depth and one of the most adult and intelligent American pictures of the forties with not a trace of the camp usually associated with the director.

Rather we get an incisive picture of a period and that rarefied milieu of high Parisian society, beautifully written by Lewin and superbly played by everyone. In particular Angela Lansbury is outstanding as the one woman Sanders might actually have feelings for. It's a great performance that should have made Lansbury a major Hollywood player rather than simply the great character actress she became. Even the usually wooden Warren William excels here. If any film cries out for a restoration it is this one.

Reviewed by Leofwine_draca 5 / 10

George Sanders on top form

Virtually the same story as the same star's later and contemporary DEATH OF A SCOUNDREL, THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI sees George Sanders on fine caddish form as a swine who works his way through a series of unfortunate women in 19th century France.

The story is well staged by Albert Lewin, who wrings plenty of melodrama out of the events, and of course there's a great performance by George Sanders - one of the original "guys you love to hate" - as the titular bad guy. He's also given decent support by Angela Lansbury (who'd suppose she was ever young?) and John Carradine, playing outside of B-movies for once.

The story is well paced and has a decent script, based on a story by ace writer Guy de Maupassant. It has inevitably dated in the years since release, lacking the moments of high drama that you'd expect from the premise, but it makes up for it with the dramatic stand-off at the climax.

Reviewed by MartinHafer 7 / 10

Very good, though Sanders made another film very much like it--and it was a bit better.

In 1956, George Sanders made one of his best films, "Death of a Scoundrel". I mention this because in many ways, "The Private Affairs of Bel Ami" is very similar--though not quite as satisfying and amoral. Both stories star Sanders and both feature him as a schemer--a man who uses people (especially women) and casts them aside when it suits his best interests--and his main interests are power and money.

When the film begins, Sanders is almost broke and with a low-paying job. However, when an old friend (John Carradine) meets him in a café, he offers to help him get a job on his newspaper--a chance for more money and to meet the right people. And, slowly, Sanders begins to work his way upwards--mostly by marrying or wooing the right women. The most fascinating was when his friend died--and just seconds later, he proposes to the widow! And, to make it worse, the body is lying next to them! This sort of thing and much more make up the rest of the film--an entertaining soap opera throughout. My only reservation is that the latter film is just a lot better--with less slow moments and a character who is even more unlikable and scheming! By the way, a scene to look for is when they unveil 'The Temptation of St. Anthony'. The painting is in full color within a black & white film--like the picture in "The Portrait of Dorian Gray". Because of this, it's VERY striking--especially with its very intense reds. This an other versions of this scene (it was a popular theme during the Renaissance) are very disturbing to see for the average person--but also very compelling and emotive.

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