AT THE MOVIES | 1938 | HOTEL DU NORD BY MARCEL CARNE' | FEATURING ANDRE' PERUGIA


Il ruolo più celebrato di Arletty fu quello della prostituta Raymonde nel film Albergo Nord [Hotel du Nord] diretto da Marcel Carné nel 1938. La scena più famosa del film è quella in cui Raymonde litiga col suo protettore Edmonde (l’attore Louis Jouvet ) sul ponte del canale Saint-Martin, scena che in realtà fu interamente girata in studio, come il resto del film. La scena è visibile QUI.

The most celebrated role played by Arletty was Raymonde, the prostitute in the film "Hotel du Nord", directed by Marcel Carné in 1938. It is usually quoted the scene of the film where Raymonde quarrels with her procurer Edmonde (the actor Louis Jouvet) on the bridge over the Saint-Martin canal, a scene that was actually shot entirely on a set, like the rest of the film [Here to watch the scene].


1938 | Arletty and Louis Jouvet in Hotel du Nord by Marcel Carné
"Atmosphere" scene
Shoes by André Perugia

Il dialogo con Edmond, che vuole andare a La Varenne a pescare da solo, divenne un tormentone per gli sproloqui involontariamente comici della povera Raymonde. Prima dà del fatalitario (anziché fatalista) ad Edmond. Poi gli risponde così:

Edmond: “Ho bisogno di cambiare atmosfera e la mia atmosfera sei tu”

Raymonde: “É la prima volta che mi si dà dell’atmosfera! Atmosfera … Atmosfera!!! Ho forse la faccia da atmosfera? Se è così, vacci da solo a La Varenne. Buona pesca e buona atmosfera!”



Edmond wants to go fishing to La Varenne on his own, but Edmonde would like to join him. Part of the dialogue became very popular for unintentionally comical rants of poor Raymonde. Before she describes Edmond as “fatalitaire” rather than fatalistic. Then she answer this way:

Edmonde: “I need a change of atmosphere, and you are my atmosphere!”

Raymonde: “This is the first time I’ve ever been called atmosphere. ... Atmosphere ! Is that so? Allright then: go by yourself at La Varenne. Have a good fishing and good atmosphere!”



1938 | Arletty and Louis Jouvet in Hotel du Nord by Marcel Carné
"Atmosphere" scene
Shoes by André Perugia

Per una fortunata coincidenza, proprio in quella scena Arletty indossa un paio di scarpe del suo bottier preferito, cioè André Perugia. Un originale modello con tacco alto, tallone scoperto e un ampio cinturino alla caviglia. Elemento chiave della scena il dialogo. Ma, come ricordò la stessa Arletty in un'intervista “intorno al dialogo in quella scena c’era il resto, il ponte sul canale Saint-Martin, Jouvet, la borsa di Schiaparelli, le scarpe di Perugia. Quelle da sole valevano 80 appuntamenti di Raymonde…” . [1]

By a happy coincidence, in that scene Arletty wears a pair of shoes designed by her favourite bottier, André Perugia. An original slingback model with a high heel and a wide ankle strap. Dialogue is the key element of the scene, “but – Arletty said - in that scene there was the rest around the dialogue, the bridge over the Saint-Martin canal, Jouvet, Schiaparelli's bag, Perugia’s shoes. The latter alone were worth about 80 of Raymonde dates...” [1]



1937 André Perugia
Filed April 12, 1937 - Granted May 11, 1937
Source:Google Patents

As it often happens a Perugia shoe lives a second life. Back in 2015, a creation by Pierre Hardy paid homage to Arletty. 

Now, it’s a bold move in these times to name a shoe model after a 1930s French diva. It's way cool and we applaud it. However, while it’s not a knock off, it is clearly inspired by the André Perugia slingback used by Arletty, so it could have been way cooler if Perugia’s name were highlighted somewhere in the press kit, don’t you think Mr. Hardy?


2015 | Pierre Hardy makes a Perugia
The model "Arletty"


SEE ALSO:
ARLETTY [A.K.A. ARLETTE] & ANDRE PERUGIA


[1] «Appelez-moi Arletty" - interview with Arletty by René Bernard - Express, nr. 2051 (Nov 1, 1990)





1938 | Arletty in "Hotel du Nord"
Source: CineTom

 

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