Name: The Marriage Came Tumbling Down
Released: 1968
Duration: 1 min 28 s
Cast: Michel Simon, Marie Dubois, Yves Lefebvre, Thalie Fruges, Serge Gainsbourg

Cast & Crew

Film Details

Also Known As

Ce Sacré grand-père

Release Date

Jan 1968

Premiere Information

New York opening: 5 Nov 1968

Production Company

Champs Elysées Productions; Isabelle Films

Distribution Company

Royal Films International

Country

France

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel Je m'appelle Jérico by Catherine Paysan (Paris, 1964).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 28m

Synopsis

Marie and Jacques, whose marriage has apparently failed, take a 3-week holiday in the country with Jacques' grandfather, a retired veterinarian. Though they pretend to be happily married, Grandfather is not fooled. Marie stays at home brooding while Jacques cycles to town each day to call his mistress. One day Jacques sees a beautiful woman sunbathing and fails at first to recognize her as his wife. They begin to repair their relationship, but Marie remains skeptical of Jacques' sincerity. Grandfather meanwhile has enlisted the aid of his young neighbor Rémy, a musician, to make Jacques jealous. They all meet at the home of La Duchesse, and when Grandfather is called upon to help deliver a foal, Rémy, Marie, and Jacques look on, deeply moved. Later, Rémy advises Marie to live for herself instead of through her husband; and Grandfather recounts to Jacques how he sought pleasure outside the home but would never allow his marriage to be endangered. At a party given by La Duchesse, Jacques' mistress, whom he has begun to neglect, appears and demands that Jacques meet her the next day. Grandfather and Marie are left waiting in anticipation, but not for long, as Jacques returns shortly, having broken off his affair to be with his wife.