I Was It Three Times (Je l'ai été 3 fois !)

The film began on the Côte d'Azur, and...

was completed in the Neuilly studio in Paris.

People judged the film according to their own taste.

We watched from a car, which was spacious enough...

for the screenwriter,

also the director,

and the producer to get out.

I asked my assistant, François Gir, to bring the car.

He tried to get out of it boldly when I said:

"Bring the car."

Thank you!

Here are our staff, with smiling faces.

Among them may sit future filmmakers,

a sound technician or some designers.

Here is our film editor, Raymond Lamy.

He edits, edits, and edits at a rapid pace.

Processing so much film is always exciting.

Lana Marconi wanted to come with her horse.

Eventually, she agreed to a horse-drawn cart.

Production manager, André Deroual, was always there.

Good. It's done,

Then he leaves again.

To come back.

Always in his own way.

Watching everything, missing nothing...

he was the face of all-consuming activity...

efficient, even courteous.

Under the pretext that Neuilly is on the Seine,

Bernard Blier found it best to cross the water.

He ran everything with masterly authority.

He wears his admiral's cap to the bitter end.

Like my cameraman, who controls the lighting

with such infallible precision that he

could continue until the last minute...

knowing he was always the first ready.

Louiguy, who wrote the music for the film,

came himself to conduct the orchestra.

It played either one of his songs, or all of them.

On this train from Marseille

sit Arius and Eyser from the Comédie Française.

Simone Paris maintains her balance from the Basque coast.

She is welcomed by Solange Varennes.

Mallet, Darbel and the Funès arrive by bus,

with Poirier, Pignier the assistant director,

sound man Janisse, and makeup man Chanteau,

cameraman Bachelet, with René Ribault,

André Bernard, Paulette Bodrigard,

costumer Gilberte, and script-girl Odette Lemarchand.

At 342 km/h Meg Lemonnier comes from Monaco-Monte-Carlo.

Finally, keenly watching all expenses,

Pauline Carton arrives on foot.

She is in no hurry, therefore she comes in last...

although she is usually the first to arrive at filming.

She is in no hurry, therefore she comes in last...

How would I look in the metro in this costume?

You made an impression. - I completely agree with you, madam.

So how did it go? - An obvious success.

If you have to do your work, both writing and assembling,

success is guaranteed.

So good that you don't know how much credit you get for it,

among others from the actors, I mean.

But that is not the question for tonight.

What is the question then?

It's about the number of spectators.

Find out the name of that woman with the low-cut dress,

with little diamonds here and there,

sitting in the box, to my right, please.

She is enchanting. - I'll take a look.

Thank you.

Inside.

What is it? Ah!

Mr. Renneval, sorry to disturb you.

Are we spending the night together? - Why do you ask that?

A man I don't know, a friend of a friend,

asks me to spend the evening with him.

Go on.

Aren't you annoyed by my question every evening?

No.

Good luck then.

Rest well, on to the end of the journey.

You will have a preference. - I am sure of that.

You are very conscientious for a young actress.

Well? - Well, she is Mrs. Verdier.

Her husband is a jeweler at Place Vendôme.

She was previously married to an officer's son.

Her current husband is with her in the box.

He is not the old one, that's the prefect.

You should have seen him... I mean, the husband.

I can see him now, but now I see him much better.

You always need to know how the husband looks.

But how did you get so much detailed information?

I asked the girls who show the seats.

One knew this, another that... those girls know everything!

People tell them things... they deliver love letters.

In 15 years you see a lot.

Especially here in Monte-Carlo.

They are all old, ruined gamblers.

You're joking with me!

Ruined, but not lost.

Some just want to grab a cloakroom number,

and run outside,

to give away all their tips on roulette tables.

Well, are you really falling for this lady?

Yes, I like her very much.

Bad luck, you leave the day after tomorrow.

All the more reason to do something about it.

Really? - Of course.

Do you know which men

are usually most adored by women?

Those who sleep with them only once.

That's how it is everywhere in the world...

those beautiful places, you shouldn't return to,

full of beautiful paintings you'll never see again,

and wonderful books better left unread.

There are even cities where you perform once.

They call.

If it depresses you, the theater is your whole life.

The theater and love. - Not at the same time!

Oh yes!

Anything is possible when love and theater are mixed.

They must belong together!

Indivisible... a confusion.

Yes... confused... sometimes you can't tell them apart.

And for me, acting is the practice of love.

So, is practicing love acting?

No, I don't say that.

No. I don't say that, but I will think about it.

Listen, after the late dinner, suppose...

triumphantly, like this. Let's be candid.

So, after such a dinner, if we've just played 5 acts,

there remains another act that must be performed.

Love becomes the usual conclusion, ultimately the consequence

the reward for a well-executed task.

So an actor can expect applause from his bed partner

and at some point... a... bravo?

No, I rather think that one night I'll get an enthusiastic request,

whispered in my ear: "More!"

You're up in 5 minutes. - After all, it's possible.

You see, madam, an actor...

is not so much interested in his own pleasure...

as in the memories he leaves behind.

But if we want that memory to be indelible...

it's better that we don't erase it ourselves.

Come in, excellency... what a lovely surprise.

You are so charming, madam.

Your presence overwhelms me.

He speaks as if addressing you.

Words fall short to express my feelings.

Do you know who that was? - No.

Renneval. - Do you think so?

I saw him at the theater last night. I recognized him immediately.

Can we ask for his autograph? - Good idea.

Will you do it? - He'll be flattered.

Mr. Renneval?

Is it rude to ask for an autograph?

Certainly not, miss. - See!

"See what?" - I told my friend.

That surprised me, but did not bother me.

No need to rush, miss.

Thank you.

It would really be nice to sign twice.

Don't you have errands nearby?

No.

We'll share the paper.

Doesn't it annoy you that people always ask for autographs?

I'd be more annoyed if they didn't ask.

Thank you, sir.

It's so exciting to see you up close...

and hear your voice.

And we think you look better without beard and mustache!

Goodbye, young ladies. - Goodbye, sir.

Thank you, madam. - "Thank you"? For what?

For being so attractive during yesterday's evening performance.

Weren't you in the box, to my right,

in the theater? - Yes, indeed.

I saw only you during the entire performance.

I performed just for you. The declaration of love

in the second act was dedicated to you.

I had the audacity to skip two replies at...

the end of the scene.

They did not match the true feelings

I felt for you.

Now fate sometimes does things right, and let

you come into my path. Don't blame me for that.

No, sir, certainly not.

You are just as attractive in normal life.

"In normal life"? - Oh, excuse me.

I just felt that last night

we were acting together!

Julie?

Julie?

Julie! She's never around.

Yes, sir?

Has my wife not returned yet? - Not yet, sir.

Have you packed my suitcase? - Yes, sir.

Do you know where she went? - She went to buy a few magazines.

"A few magazines"...

She's definitely teasing him.

Just don't talk about it.

Can we go out for a bit together?