La Chienne (La chienne)

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to present...

...a serious social drama...

...proving that vice is always punished.

...ladies and gentlemen we are proud to present...

...a comedy of manners with a moral.

What are you doing? I'm the announcer!

But that's my job!

No, it's mine!

Ladies and gentlemen pay no attention to them.

The play that follows is neither comedy nor drama.

It has no moral whatsoever... ...and proves nothing at all.

The characters are neither heroes nor villains...

...but plain people like you and me

The three main ones are...

HE, SHE... and THE OTHER GUY ...as usual.

HE is a nice, timid chap, not that young...

...but much too naive.

His culture and sensitivity....

...so far above his milieu...

...makes him look like a perfect fool.

SHE is a creature with a special brand of charm...

...and a vulgarity all her own.

She is always sincere...

...and she lies all the time.

As for THE OTHER GUY...

...he's just plain Dede, nothing more.

And now, ladies and geltlemen, the show is about to begin!

I am deeply moved to extend you, upon this happy occasion...

...the respectful contratulations of the entire company...

We are just one big family.... which you manage like a father.

And I can assure you, Mr. Henriot, that the entire personnel of Henriot & Co...

...lingerie dealer... on whose behalf I am speaking...

...are proud of this award...

...in recognition of your courageous efforts.

Gentlemen, to your health!

As they say in the army, 'bottoms up!'

That's a good one!

Good old Legrand. Always up to date.

He's the life of the party.

Good idea. With Legrand, that will be a scream.

Listen, old chap, the evening is still young...

...so here's what we decided to do.

He won't do it. He's too scared of his wife.

No, no... I'd rather go right home.

The little woman gave you a midnight curfew, huh?

I don't want any trouble at home...

...and I'm not interested

Such crass pleasures are beneath you.

No... I know it's possible to find nature in a bouquet of faded flowers...

...or the forest in a vial of perfume or freedom in a few cocktails...

But I feel that some dreams require solitude

What a wet blanket you are, Legrand.

At times the illusion of love may outlast the image of a dingy room...

...but awaken we must.

This is too deep for me.

What counts in life is having fun... ...and to know the right people.

You'd better count me out.

You like to live it up. I'm not very sociable.

Okay, old boy, do as you please.

But when it comes to quitters, you take the cake.

I'm awfully sorry, Mr. Andreou, but...

It would have been more fun with him.

Don't go sulking, 'cause I won't go for it.

I ain't sulking, Dede.

Want me to slap you one? I can tell when you're sulking.

You'll get your money tomorrow.

I need it tonight.

I can't see old Marchal at this hour.

You always got excuses...

Are you hurt?

Forgive me... I was passing by.

You hurt him.

I'll take you home.

We can't just leave him here...

He'll catch pneumonia.

I don't have money for a taxi.

It's your fault.

It's nothing, darling.

The old guy took you by surprise.

We'll take you home.

You'll go to bed... you'll go to sleep... and you'll be fine.

No, wait here. I'll be right down.

I'm sick of hanging around with such a dopey dame.

Either you make out with this guy, or we're through.

Yes, Dede, I promise... if that's what you want.

I bumped into a door.

He's much better.

Which way are you going?

Towards Barbes...

May I come with you?

Of course. Maybe we can walk... it's not far.

He's got good manners and he can be nice when he wants to.

And yet?...

Oh, he knows how to behave but he gets carried away.

He gets excited, you know what I mean?

Yes, I know what you mean.

Just yesterday he was wishing he could buy me pretty dresses.

I wouldn't look so bad then...

You're fine the way you are.

...and he's got talent. You should see his imitation of Maruice Chevalier...

...only he hasn't got any connections, so I've got to help him.

You help him?

Sure... we've been together three years. That's like being married, ain't it?

Will I see you again?

I'll write you.

Where should I write?

In care of the post office ...Maurice Legrand.

I'm a married man, you see.

Which post office?

Place Vintimille...

Oh, I'm sorry. How much do I owe you?

15 francs, Sir!

Are you finished with all that noise?

Sorry, I was trying to be quiet.

Why are you so late?

It's not late.

I told you to be in by eleven.

Oh... I was with friends.

The boss made speeches.. and the senator was there.

Is that why you woke me up with your rotten paintings?

I'm sick of your paintings.

I want you to get those canvasses out of my apartment.

My visitors think they're in a junk shop.

I put them away the best I can.

I don't want to see them again, you hear me?

Get rid of them...

...or I'll send for the junk man.

And I'll give him all those rotten things to take away.

Painting -- the very idea!

It's my only passion...

Since when do you have passion?

You're the laughing stock of the neighborhood. You -- an artist!

No one would have caught my first husband wasting his time with paints.

Oh, yes... the SERGEANT!

That's right. The sergeant... a real man, a hero.

HE was one of those who died in the war for the likes of you.

That wasn't my fault.

How handsome my Alexis was in his dress uniform.

Obviously I'm not built like Alexis Godard.

In any case, you've been warned.

Go to bed because I want my sleep.

You must have made a lovely couple...

A month later

Here comes the life of the party.

His wife's been beating him.

Leave him alone. He's of his rocker.

You and Josephine Baker? Don't make me laugh.

Why not 'Old Man Legrand' and a pretty girl?

What would you have done in my shoes?

Maurice made me leave home and set up here.

He's the painter I met when Dede had fainted...

and we took Dede home.

And what about Dede?

He knows all about it, of course.

How could he be jealous of a guy 42 years old?

Take a look over here.

You sure have a nice view.

He really has been good to you. he set you up nicely.

Is he very rich?

Oh, he makes plenty... but I have a feeling he's kind of stingy.

I have all the furniture on credit. He said he couldn't pay for it all at once.

By the way, did you see the wallpaper?

I chose it with Dede. I want him to feel at home here.

You sure are sweet to him.

Did you see the pictures?

Maurice painted them by hand...in oil.

His wife didn't want them in her home...

...so he brought them here.

I'm not much on art, but they look great to me.

It's a good thing tomorrow he's bringing the money he promised me.

With all these household expenses...

...the furniture, the rent, and everything else.

Only I'd better not tell Dede.

If he knows I got 1,000 francs, he'll put the bite on me...

...to pay all his debts, and I'll be broke again.

With him it is best that I am well settled.

Come and look at my bathroom.

My dream!

Oh... you have a vacuum cleaner!

Yeah, it's more hygienic.

And look, it runs on gas ...and it's automatic

Oh, that should be convenient to do the wash.

You want to take a bath?

You don't mind?

I'll get you a new bar of soap.

And you do love your painter?

I can't say it disgusts me to do it with Maurice. It's just nothing.

I relax and think of Dede.

You go to his house?

Of course not. He's married to a colonel's widow.

It doesn't disgust me as with old Marchal.

He was the hot-blooded kind.

Then why did you do it with him?

I had to, since Dede was broke.

So, Yvonne... how do you like my place?

What would you have done in my place?

My advice is... break her right away.

And the best way to break here in is with finesse.

...'specially since you've got yourself a dame who's certainly no spring chicken.

Don't let her snow you with her diamonds and her chauffeur.